Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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385. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the cost-of-living bonus will be paid to a person in County Kerry (details supplied) who transferred from the working family payment to illness benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52232/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Working Family Payment (WFP) is a weekly in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings with children. To qualify for Working Family Payment, the customer must be working a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight in ongoing insurable employment and have at least one qualified child who normally resides with them.

The Cost-of-living payment under the Working Family Payment Scheme is payable to customers who have an entitlement to Working Family Payment on 23rd November 2023. The person concerned was not in receipt of Working Family Payment on 23rd November 2023 as their claim closed on 16th August 2023 and therefore does not have an entitlement to receive the Cost-of-Living payment under the Working Family Payment Scheme.

The person concerned will be entitled to the double child benefit payment on December 5th in respect of her child.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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386. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an illness benefit claim by a person (details supplied) will be issued; the reason for the delay in switching from QAA; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52310/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department received an application for Illness Benefit from the person concerned on 16th November 2023. The first 3 days of Illness Benefit are waiting days and as such are unpaid. Sunday is not counted as a payable day for Illness Benefit. This means the person concerned is entitled to payment of Illness Benefit from 20th November 2023.

There was a delay in processing their Illness Benefit claim as they are currently a qualified adult on their partner's social welfare claim. This means that their partner is currently in receipt of a payment for them. A person cannot receive a payment in their own right while at the same time being a dependent on another person's claim. Their partner has received a payment for them up to 28th November 2023.

The monetary difference between their payment as a qualified adult and their illness benefit entitlement has been calculated and they are currently not due any arrears of Illness Benefit as they have already been paid as a qualified adult. As soon as they are due further payment of Illness Benefit, it will issue directly to the person concerned.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.