Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 July 2022
369. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection the anticipated cost to the Exchequer in 2023 of a waiver of waiting days on social welfare payments by category of payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38631/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraBased on the total number of claims awarded in 2021, the estimated annual cost to the Exchequer of a waiver of the three waiting days for Jobseeker's Allowance is approximately €7.1 million and for Jobseeker's Benefit is approximately €8.9 million. This is based on average payment rates.
Both Illness Benefit and Occupational Injury Benefit apply a period of three waiting days. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is working on the introduction of Statutory Sick Pay which would cover the first three days of illness in the first year of operation, extending to ten days over time. Entitlement will be subject to the employee having worked for their employer for a minimum of 13 weeks and providing a medical certificate. This will cover the vast majority of employees. Many of the people not covered for Statutory Sick Pay due to short duration of service are unlikely to meet the criteria for Illness Benefit of a minimum of 104 contributions and the criteria as to when those contributions were made. It is not possible to estimate the number of people who would be eligible for Illness Benefit and Occupational Injury Benefit but not eligible for Statutory Sick Pay.
I trust that this clarifies the position.
