Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 October 2017
676. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if hours of work carried out under partial capacity benefit underlying the payment of invalidity pension can be used in conjunction with a spouse's hours of work to jointly meet the hours required for family income supplement entitlement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42816/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraPartial Capacity Benefit, PCB, is a social welfare scheme which allows a person to return to work or self-employment (if he or she has reduced capacity to work) and continue to receive a payment from the Department of Social Protection.
If a person has been getting Illness Benefit, IB, for a minimum of six months or Invalidity Pension, INVP, and wishes to return to work, he or she may qualify for PCB if the person's capacity for work is reduced by a medical condition.
The person may not work until he or she has received written approval to do so from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. The person should also get the approval of a doctor before taking up employment.
There is no restriction on earnings or number of hours one can work. A person can work in a self-employed capacity while getting PCB. He or she cannot get PCB and Family Income Supplement, FIS, together.
Therefore, a couple applying for FIS in a joint capacity, where the hours of work are combined and where one of the claimants is in receipt of PCB, would not qualify for FIS.
However, FIS Section would advise that if the couple was financially better off, that they claim FIS exclusively without PCB, or that the claimant not in receipt of PCB increases his or her hours in order to qualify. In that case, PCB would be regarded as assessable income for FIS purposes and the usual assessment would apply.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy
