Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 May 2022
461. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the average time each application for enhanced illness benefit is taking to process; and if there are delays in processing known to her. [27523/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraCOVID Illness Benefit (Enhanced Illness Benefit) is a scheme that was introduced in March 2020, to support people who are incapable of work or who are required to self-isolate, as a result of a COVID diagnosis or being a probable source of infection. To date a total of 583,994 COVID Illness Benefit related claims have been processed of which 559,131 have received a payment.
The majority of Illness Benefit claims are automatically processed where an application is received and an e-Cert is submitted by a GP.
Processing statistics for Illness Benefit, which includes Enhanced Illness Benefit, show that 82% of claims are currently being awarded within a week.
Some claims for Enhanced Illness Benefit require manual intervention and my officials work to clear these claims as quickly as possible. In other instances delays in the submission of supporting medical certificates can also result in a processing delay.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
