Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 February 2018
634. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application for illness benefit by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6963/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIllness Benefit (IB) is a payment for people who cannot work due to illness and who satisfy the pay-related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. One of the PRSI conditions is that a person must have a minimum of 39 reckonable contributions paid or credited in the governing contribution year. Claims made in 2017 are governed by the 2015 tax year and only PRSI Classes A, E, H, and P are reckonable for IB purposes.
The person concerned made a claim for IB and this claim was registered in my Department on 13 November 2017. The person concerned was written to on 8 February 2018 requesting further details with regard to permission to take up employment in this country. On receipt of this information, the claim can be considered further.
However, the Deputy should note that according to my Departments records, the person concerned has no reckonable PRSI contributions and just 2 credits for the 2015 year. If the person concerned feels that they should have more contributions in 2015 they should submit information on their employment and the matter will be investigated further. It is possible that the person concerned may qualify for IB in 2018, based on their contributions in 2016, once the question of permission to take up employment has been satisfied.
If the person concerned is unable to meet their needs or the needs of their household, they may be entitled to Supplementary Welfare Allowance which is a means-tested payment. They should contact their local Intreo Centre in this regard.
The PRSI contribution conditions governing entitlement to IB are statutory and cannot be either waived or modified in any particular case.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
