Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
1159. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that the current processing time for new claims for partial capacity benefit is approximately eight weeks from the date of application; the way that this processing time can be improved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43690/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraPartial Capacity Benefit (PCB) is a social welfare scheme which allows a person to return to work or self-employment and continue to receive a payment from my department. A person must be in receipt of Illness Benefit (IB) for a minimum of six months or Invalidity Pension (IP) in order to apply for PCB. There is a two stage process application involved. The applicant first notifies my Department of their intent to take up employment and applies for PCB. My Department will determine whether the applicant is eligible and (if so) at what level the PCB would be paid. Once that decision is made the applicant must then subsequently confirm that they wish to proceed on that basis or not and confirm the date that their employment is commencing. The PCB team will then put the relevant payment in place.
From a processing time perspective, on the date the application is received it is immediately referred for medical assessment. This assessment is conducted by a qualified Medical Assessor (MA) from within my Department’s Medical Review and Assessment Section. The majority of assessments are carried out by desk assessment. However in some cases they may be referred for an In person assessment which can take longer to arrange. The applicant will qualify for PCB if their restriction on capacity for work is assessed by the MA as moderate, severe, or profound. Once a medical opinion is recorded the person concerned is notified of their potential entitlement. Currently notifications are being issued to applicants where the medical assessment is carried out at-desk within approximately 4 weeks of the original receipt of the application. Applicants are also advised at that time to notify my department with their expected employment start date. The second stage of the process can only occur once my Department receives notification that the applicant is proceeding with the employment and provides details of the expected employment start date. Once this is received their claims are processed immediately (which is generally within a week from receipt of this notification).
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
