Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Illness Benefit

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2020

Tuesday, 7 July 2020

Ceisteanna (522)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

522. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) is only receiving four weeks of the enhanced illness benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14352/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The enhanced Illness Benefit payment for cases in which a person is self-isolating on the instruction of a doctor or the HSE due to being a probable source of infection of Covid-19 is paid for a maximum of 4 weeks.

If a person receives a positive diagnosis of Covid-19, they may receive enhanced Illness benefit for a further 10 weeks. If a person has received the maximum of 4 weeks enhanced payment for self-isolation but does not have a confirmed diagnosis of Covid-19, the payment will revert to the normal Illness Benefit rate of payment providing a person qualifies for payment under existing Illness Benefit eligibility requirements and has medical certification from their GP.

The person concerned was paid for 4 weeks of enhanced Illness benefit for self-isolation from the 23rd March 2020 to the 18th April 2020. She did not qualify for further payment of regular Illness benefit after this based on her PRSI contributions.

In order to qualify for regular illness benefit, a person must have a total of 104 PRSI contributions paid. A person also must have 39 weeks of PRSI contributions paid or credited in the relevant tax year, of which 13 must be paid contributions at class A, E, H or P. Alternatively, a person may have 26 weeks of PRSI contributions paid in the relevant tax year, and 26 weeks of PRSI contributions paid in the tax year immediately before the relevant tax year with all such contributions at class A, E, H or P.

The person concerned does not have 104 total PRSI contributions paid, and has only 21 contributions paid on 2018, so they do not qualify for payment of normal Illness benefit.

If the person concerned is in need of financial assistance, it is open for them to contact their local community welfare officer and apply for Supplementary Welfare Allowance.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Barr
Roinn