I propose to take Questions Nos. 65, 66 and 68 together.
Illness benefit is a payment for insured people who cannot work due to illness. A person may qualify for illness benefit if they are unable to work due to illness, satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) conditions, and are under age 66.
The tables below set out breakdowns of illness benefit claim durations (measured in claim paid days) as requested. It should be noted that in relation to claims made in 2010, figures are shown separately for ongoing (open) and completed (closed) claims.
Table 1 — IB Claims in Payment at 31st December 2011, by duration of claim
Duration
|
Number of Claims
|
1 to 2 days
|
371
|
3 to 6 days
|
486
|
1 week to 1 month
|
3,183
|
1 to 2 months
|
4,509
|
2 to 3 months
|
3,627
|
3 to 6 months
|
7,088
|
6 months to 1 year
|
9,802
|
1 to 2 years
|
11,999
|
2 to 5 years
|
13,389
|
5 to 10 years
|
12,868
|
Over 10 years
|
6,075
|
Total
|
73,397
|
Table 2A — IB Claims made in 2010, ongoing at 8th June 2012, by duration of claim
Duration
|
Number of Claims
|
1 to 2 days
|
0
|
3 to 6 days
|
0
|
1 week to 1 month
|
0
|
1 to 2 months
|
0
|
2 to 3 months
|
0
|
3 to 6 months
|
0
|
6 months to 1 year
|
0
|
1 to 2 years
|
5,678
|
2 to 5 years
|
164
|
5 to 10 years
|
0
|
Over 10 years
|
0
|
Total
|
5,842
|
Table 2B — IB Claims made in 2010, subsequently closed, by duration of claim
Duration
|
Number of Claims
|
1 to 2 days
|
25,572
|
3 to 6 days
|
67,654
|
1 week to 1 month
|
77,237
|
1 to 2 months
|
25,716
|
2 to 3 months
|
11,891
|
3 to 6 months
|
13,294
|
6 months to 1 year
|
9,413
|
1 to 2 years
|
6,307
|
2 to 5 years
|
76
|
Total
|
237,160
|
The Department does not maintain data on "sector of economy" of illness benefit claims. As a result, it is not possible to distinguish between claimants working in different sectors of the economy, including the public sector. Note 1: Illness benefit is not normally paid for the first 3 days of the claim. These days are known as waiting days. There are six claim paid days in a week as no payment is made for Sundays. Note 2: In general, in respect of illness benefit claims made from January 2009 onwards, payment is limited to a maximum of 104 weeks (624 pay days).