Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. Illness benefit is the primary short-term income support provided by my Department to those who are unable to work due to illness of any type and who are covered by social insurance. Eligibility for illness benefit depends on the person’s PRSI record and class. People must have made the required number of contributions in class A, E, H or P to qualify.

In general, self-employed people make PRSI contributions at class S, which does not count towards eligibility for illness benefit. I am not considering changing this rule. However, self-employed contributors who cannot work due to an illness or a disability may apply for disability allowance, a means-tested social assistance payment, or invalidity pension, a social insurance payment. Illness benefit is funded by the Social Insurance Fund through PRSI contributions. The fund is central to our social protection system and the Government needs to ensure that it can provide adequate and sustainable social insurance pensions and benefits for a growing and aging population. Self-employed people pay contributions to the fund at a lower rate of 4%. This is 11% lower than the combined employer and employee contribution of 15.05% made in respect of employed contributors. However, self-employed contributors have access to over 90% of benefits available to employed contributors.

These include: adoptive benefit; guardian's contributory payment; invalidity pension; jobseeker's benefit for the self-employed; maternity benefit; parent's benefit; partial capacity benefit where in receipt of invalidity pension; paternity benefit; the State contributory pension; treatment benefit; and widows, widower's or surviving civil partner's contributory pension. The only benefits that class S PRSI do not provide access to are carer's benefit, health and safety benefit, illness benefit, and occupational injuries benefits.

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