Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 178: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the changes, if any, to the length of time illness benefit is paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47526/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that the Deputy is referring to changes to the Illness Benefit scheme introduced by the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008.

Illness Benefit is an income support payment for people of working age who are unable to work due to illness and who satisfy certain social insurance conditions. The scheme is intended to provide income replacement for insured persons during short spells of incapacity or illness, while other payments are available to people who are unable to work long-term because of a disability or a medical condition.

Prior to the introduction of changes provided for in the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008, there was no limit on the amount of time for which Illness Benefit could be paid to people who had more than 260 social insurance contributions. An OECD review entitled "Sickness, Disability and Work: breaking the Barriers" noted that paying illness or sickness benefit without a time limitation was very unusual across the OECD, and pointed to the risk that people in such circumstances will never return to the labour market.

Against that background, the 2008 Act provided for entitlement to Illness Benefit to be limited to two years (or 624 days) duration for new claims from the 5th January, 2009.