Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)
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99. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an claim for illness benefit by a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary, as this claim has been ongoing for a considerable length of time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27646/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The person concerned claimed Illness Benefit from 2 September 2013. To qualify for this benefit certain PRSI contribution conditions must be satisfied.

The person concerned is from Romania. From 1 January 2012 citizens of that country (and from Bulgaria) do not need a work permit to work here. However, if they worked in Ireland prior to 2012 they were legally required to have a valid work permit.

The contributions paid by the person concerned prior to 2012 need to be taken into account in order to qualify her claim to Illness Benefit. She was, accordingly, asked on 13 September 2013 for evidence, e.g. a work permit, of permission to work here. As this has not been received to date it has not been possible to approve her claim to illness benefit.