Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1275. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that illness benefit payments are not provided for self-employed persons with short to medium-term illness; if she is considering any measures to facilitate these payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41176/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability.
Illness Benefit is the primary income support payment for people who cannot work due to illness of any type and who are covered by social insurance.
Self-employed people who make PRSI contributions at Class S do not qualify for Illness Benefit. In order to qualify for Illness Benefit, people must have made the required number of contributions under Class A, E, H or P.
There has been an extensive expansion of access to the range of social insurance benefits for self-employed contributors in recent years without any increase in the 4% rate of contribution made by them. In effect, self-employed contributors, in return for a contribution of 11 percentage points lower than the combined employer and employee contribution of 15.05% made in respect of employed contributors, have access to benefits which comprise over 90% of the value of all benefits available to employed contributors.
Where all qualification criteria are satisfied, Class S PRSI gives access to Adoptive Benefit, Guardian's Payment (Contributory), Invalidity Pension, Jobseeker's Benefit (Self-Employed), Maternity Benefit, Parent's Benefit, Partial Capacity Benefit (where in receipt of Invalidity Pension), Paternity Benefit, State Pension (Contributory), Treatment Benefit, and Widows, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension.
Regarding short- and medium-term illnesses, my Department provides means-tested supports under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who are ill but who do not qualify for illness and disability payments. An Additional Needs Payment is also available to people who have expenses that they cannot pay from their weekly income.
Although self-employed people are not usually eligible for Illness Benefit, an exception was made in relation to Covid-19 enhanced Illness Benefit, primarily as a public health measure. The purpose of this payment is to encourage people to not attend the workplace due to financial constraint when they should be in isolation.
Self-employed people may qualify for long-term payments Disability Allowance or Invalidity Pension if they satisfy all eligibility criteria.
Disability Allowance is a social assistance payment for people with a disability who are aged 16-66 and are resident in the state. Applicants are subject to medical and means assessments.
Invalidity Pension is a social insurance payment for people who cannot work because of a long-term illness or disability. Eligibility is based on PRSI contribution record, this payment is not means-tested. Applicants are, however, subject to a medical assessment.
My Department keeps its income supports under review in order to make sure they meet their objectives. Any changes to the current system would need to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
