Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 February 2024
236. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to change the legislation to allow for workers in receipt of widows/widowers pension to be in a position to qualify for illness benefit when they are unfit for work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9851/24]
View answerIllness benefit is the main income support provided to those who cannot work due to illness of any kind and who are covered by social insurance.
Widow’s/widower’s/surviving civil partner’s pension (contributory) is a weekly social insurance payment to those who have lost their spouse or civil partner and are covered by social insurance.
There is a general principle of one person, one payment, which applies across the social welfare system. Given the contingency-based nature of this system, it can happen that a person may experience more than one contingency at the same time, but, generally, they can receive only one payment. This principle is common to social security systems across the world.
As a general rule, people on widow’s/widower’s/surviving civil partner’s pension (contributory) cannot be in receipt of an overlapping second payment, for example illness benefit, at the same time. This does not affect the customer's entitlement to credited contributions, to maintain the continuity of their PRSI record, while they are unable to work due to illness.
If a customer is getting a reduced rate of widow’s/widower’s/surviving civil partner’s pension (contributory), they may also get a reduced rate of illness benefit, so that the combined amount of both payments is not greater than the maximum rate of illness Benefit to which they would otherwise be entitled. Further exceptions to the one person, one payment rule and more information on the operations of the scheme are available at gov.ie.
With regard to additional supports, my Department also provides an 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.
My Department keeps its schemes and supports under review to make sure they continue to meet their objectives. Any changes to the current system would need to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.
