Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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62. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if an appropriate social welfare payment is available to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29464/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.

A total of 260 weeks PRSI paid and 48 weeks PRSI paid or credited in the last complete tax year before the relevant date are required to satisfy the PRSI conditions for IP. The reckonable PRSI contribution classes for IP are A, E and H.

The person concerned applied for IP in April 2014. His application was refused on the grounds that the PRSI contribution conditions for the scheme were not satisfied.

Illness benefit (IB) is a short-term payment for persons who are incapable of work and who satisfy the PRSI conditions. For IB, the reckonable PRSI contribution classes are A, E, H and P. The relevant tax year is the second last complete tax year before the year in which the claim for IB begins. To qualify for payment of IB, a person must have a total of 104 weeks reckonable PRSI paid.

Therefore, it does not appear that the person concerned would satisfy the PRSI contribution criteria for IB.

Persons who have an insufficient employment/PRSI record to qualify for a social insurance benefit/pension may apply for an appropriate means-tested social assistance scheme.

Disability allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged over 16 and under 66. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residency test.

The person concerned previously applied for DA in July 2013 and December 2013. Both applications were refused as the person’s means exceeded the statutory limit. If the person concerned thinks he now may be eligible for DA, it is open to him to make a new application and a decision on his eligibility will be made as soon as possible.