Paula Butterly (Louth, Fine Gael)

I wish to discuss the rule that excludes widows and widowers from receiving illness benefit solely because they are in receipt of a widower's pension, notwithstanding the fact that they have returned to work and are paying all of their PRSI contributions. The Minister of State will be aware that illness benefit is a contribution-based process. If somebody has returned to work and has made their PRSI payments, and then through unfortunate circumstances has to leave work because of an illness, I do not see any reason they should not be entitled to an illness benefit.

There is nothing like a cold, hard case to drive home a point so let me underline a case in my constituency. There was a young woman who at the age of 30 lost her husband through tragic circumstances. After a period of having to deal with everything that is involved in those circumstances and having to tend to her children's needs, she went back to work. Unfortunately, after a number of months the same woman fell ill herself and had to take time off work to take care of herself. Because she was in receipt of a widow's pension, she was not entitled to illness benefit. I find this grossly unfair and it is a gap that we need to resolve. If it is not traumatic enough that a family has to go through the death of a partner and in the event that the surviving partner falls ill , which while it might be uncommon, is not rare, that partner is now putting their own family circumstances into fierce financial hardship. This woman in particular, having done everything right and despite all the odds, goes back to work tries to provide for her family is left in circumstances where she is clearly falling below the poverty line, yet is not entitled to anything. Surely in a system that is fair and proportionate we can revise that rule and ensure that when this happens we as a Government are there for people in these circumstances.

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