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 table below sets out the number of illness benefit claims processed in the years 2008-2011 inclusive and 2012 (to end June).
Illness Benefit Claims Processed
Year
|
Number of Claims Processed
|
2008
|
308,989
|
2009
|
312,468
|
2010
|
287,846
|
2011
|
298,644
|
2012*
|
150,154
|
*Note that provided figures for 2012 are for the up to end June 2012.
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.