Eileen Lynch (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. My Commencement matter is about a review of the widow’s pension and the payment of same. There is a massive anomaly in the system when it comes to the payment of the widow’s pension insofar as if someone is in receipt of the widow’s pension, that person cannot receive any sick pay or illness benefit should she need to go on sick leave from work. It is incredibly discriminatory and unfair. It needs to be addressed.

Unfortunately, when it comes to bereavement, it does not discriminate in terms of age. Many younger people who lose their spouses or partners continue working and raising a family. They are in receipt of widow’s pension, which is based off the stamps of their deceased spouses. However, should they require sick benefit, illness benefit and time off work, they cannot receive the second social welfare payment. I understand the double jeopardy rule insofar as people cannot claim two payments, but this is based off their own stamps. Essentially, the current situation is preventing people who are paying PRSI from accessing their own stamps, should they need to. Surely, the whole point of the system is that people can access it should they need illness benefit and time off work. We are making things incredibly difficult for these people. It is unfair, and it is a matter that is not raised enough. It is an anomaly in the system. It is not the claiming of double stamps. Widow’s pension comes from the stamps of one’s deceased spouse whereas illness benefit comes from one’s own stamps that one has been contributing to.

I refer to the argument that people cannot receive two social welfare payments.That is not always strictly true insofar as you can be in receipt of a social welfare payment and receive a half-rate carer's payment. There are certain social welfare payments to which that rule applies. I get that this is up to a limited period. However, it would help if those who have to go on sick leave could even access illness benefit at half the rate, which, as I said, we see in terms of carers. There has to be a way to address this. The system is incredibly unfair. Those who are dealing with bereavement and trying to raise a family are dealing with it on their own. They are dealing with enough without the worry that they are working full time. These people literally cannot afford to go on sick leave.