Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 December 2018
251. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an illness benefit payment for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52323/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department administers the Illness Benefit scheme to those customers who cannot work because they are sick or ill., provided they are covered by the appropriate class of social insurance (PRSI) and satisfy the PRSI conditions.
Illness Benefit rates are graduated according to your average weekly earnings in the relevant tax year. Average weekly earnings are calculated by dividing the total reckonable gross earnings (without deductions) in the relevant tax year by the actual number of weeks worked in that year.
The relevant tax year for Illness Benefit claims made in 2018 is 2016 and, as the person concerned has average weekly earnings of €297.87 in 2016, if an Illness Benefit claim is made in 2018, she will qualify for a payment of €155.10.
Any improvements or additions to the Department's schemes can only be considered in a budgetary context and in the light of available resources.
It is open to the person concerned to apply for Invalidity Pension if she is permanently incapable of work . In addition if the person concerned has an urgent financial need she can apply for assistance to the Department's Community Welfare Service at her local Intreo office.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
