Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

191. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason a person who is in receipt of illness benefit cannot avail of both the partial capacity benefit scheme and the wage subsidy scheme in view of the fact that a person who is in receipt of disability allowance is entitled to participate in both schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31082/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It should be noted that the details in the examples quoted by the Deputy are incorrect. In the case of the first example, a person on disability allowance (DA) is not eligible to participate on the partial capacity benefit (PCB) scheme, while in the case of the second example, a person on illness benefit for six months can avail of PCB

To clarify the situation, the PCB scheme is designed for people who are on illness benefit, for at least six months, or on invalidity pension and who have retained some capacity for work and wish to work. If awarded, PCB will allow them to continue to receive, in addition to their earnings from employment, a percentage of their illness benefit or invalidity pension payment while working.

A person who is in receipt of disability allowance (DA) is not eligible for participation in the PCB scheme but may take up employment of a rehabilitative nature. Where a person takes up such employment, s/he will have the first €120 of weekly earnings disregarded in the means test for the payment while earnings between €120 and €350 will be assessed at 50 per cent.

The wage subsidy scheme (WSS) is an employment support to the private sector employer, the objective of which is to encourage employers to employ people with disabilities and thereby increase the numbers of people with disabilities participating in the open labour market. The scheme provides financial incentives to private sector employers to hire people with a disability for between 21 and 39 hours per week under a contract of employment.

The issue of extending eligibility for the WSS to employers who employ people in receipt of PCB, is now being considered in the context of revising the WSS operational guidelines, but budgetary considerations will be a key factor in arriving at a final decision on the matter.