Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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120. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath has had his medical appliance benefit claim refused on the basis he does not have the necessary contribution record; if same will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52341/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Eligibility for treatment benefit (including medical appliances) is based on a person’s PRSI record. A claimant must have at least 260 reckonable PRSI contributions paid since first starting work, and 39 such contributions paid or credited in a relevant tax year.

Only PRSI paid at classes A, E, H, or P count towards benefit.

While the person concerned has a full PRSI record, these contributions were paid at class D, reduced-rate public sector PRSI contributions which do not count towards treatment benefit, as a result the person concerned does not qualify.

If the person concerned has a Medical Card, he should contact his local health service executive office, which can provide information about medical appliances available through the HSE scheme.