Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 July 2019
667. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when payment of partial capacity benefit will be made to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28065/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraPartial Capacity Benefit allows a person who has been in receipt of Illness Benefit for six months or Invalidity Pension and who may not have full capacity for work, to return to employment and continue to receive a partial or full payment from the Department. The personal rate of payment is based on the assessment of the person's restriction on capacity for work i.e. moderate, severe or profound, where the person retains 50%, 75%, or 100% of their payment respectively.
An application for Partial Capacity Benefit was received from the person concerned on the 13th December 2018. She was assessed as having a mild incapacity for work and therefore did not qualify for Partial Capacity Payment. She was notified of the decision on the 15th February 2019.
On request, the Department reviewed this decision and a second medical assessment resulted in her being considered as having a moderate incapacity for work which would satisfy the medical criteria for entitlement to Partial Capacity Benefit. A notification issued to her on the 29th May 2019 informing her of this.
However, as entitlement to Partial Capacity Benefit is dependent on a person having an underlying entitlement to either Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension and as the entitlement of the person concerned to Invalidity Pension is currently being reviewed, a decision on her Partial Capacity Benefit application cannot be made until this review is completed.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
