Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 July 2020
794. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider eligibility for those that took time off work to look after an elderly or incapacitated family members and that themselves now are ill but are not entitled to illness benefit in view of the fact they do not have the required qualifying criteria; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19952/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe criteria for eligibility for illness benefit are laid down in legislation. Illness Benefit may only be awarded to those who fulfil the contribution criteria. To qualify for illness benefit a customer must:
- Be unable to work due to illness
- Be under pensionable age (currently 66)
- Satisfy the contribution conditions
- At least 104 reckonable contributions
- 39 reckonable contributions in relevant tax year, 13 of which must be paid OR 26 in relevant tax year and 26 weeks PRSI paid in appropriate class in year before governing contribution year.
- Reckonable earnings above a certain amount in relevant tax year.
In 2019 206,026 claims were received and expenditure on illness benefit was in the region of €606 million.
For those who are unable to meet the criteria for Illness Benefit, the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme provides a "safety net" within the overall social welfare system and provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants. SWA provides immediate and flexible assistance for those in need who do not qualify for payment under other schemes.
People who take time off work to care for family members may be eligible for Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Benefit.
Credited contributions, normally known as credits, are awarded to recipients of Carer’s Benefit and of Carer’s Allowance where they have an underlying entitlement to credits. Recipients of these payments qualify for credits where they have at least one paid contribution in the previous two years or have had credited contributions in that period. Credits are also awarded to workers who take unpaid Carer’s Leave from work.
Credits protect social insurance entitlements by bridging gaps in an employee’s social insurance record, where they are not in a position to pay PRSI, such as during periods spent caring. In combination with paid PRSI contributions, credits assist employees in qualifying for short-term schemes and enhance the level of benefit for long-term schemes.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
