Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
839. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider introducing a new statutory payment for employees and self-employed people with chronic illnesses to attend medical appointments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28246/23]
View answerSince 1 January 2023, customers have a right to three days’ sick pay a year under the statutory sick pay scheme. Under that scheme, sick pay may be paid by an employer at 70% of a person’s normal pay, up to a maximum of €110 a day for the first three days of an absence due to illness. The Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment has policy responsibility for statutory sick pay. In addition, employees may be accommodated by their employers in attending medical appointments as part of their working arrangements. There is no statutory entitlement to payment for attending appointments and there are no current proposals to provide for such a payment.
Illness Benefit is the main short-term income support provided by this department to those who cannot work due to illness of any kind and who are covered by social insurance. Eligibility for Illness Benefit is based on medical certification and social insurance contribution conditions made. It is paid from the Social Insurance Fund and Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) paid under Classes A, E, H and P count towards Illness Benefit. Self-employed people generally contribute to the Social Insurance Fund under Class S and do not qualify for Illness Benefit.; however, like employees, self-employed people who cannot work because of a long-term illness or disability may qualify for Invalidity Pension or Disability Allowance.
With regard to additional supports, this department also provides Additional Needs Payment under our Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme to help meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. This includes exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from a person’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary.
The payment is available to anyone who needs it and qualifies, whether the person is currently on a social welfare payment or in employment. The payment amount will depend on a person’s weekly household income, their outgoings and the type of assistance needed. Payments are made at the discretion of the Community Welfare Officers administering the scheme, considering all the circumstances of the case.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
