Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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152. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved and granted illness benefit. [39357/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Illness benefit is a payment for people who cannot work due to illness and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (prsi) contribution conditions. The prsi conditions are that a person must have a minimum of 39 reckonable contributions paid or credited in the tax year governing the claim. Claims made in 2015 are governed by the 2013 tax year, and only Classes a, e, h, and p contributions are reckonable for illness benefit purposes.

An application for illness benefit was made from 30 Sept 2015. My department contacted the person concerned on 7 October 2015 requesting further information regarding their prsi contributions. Following receipt of the relevant documentation student credits were awarded and person concerned now qualifies for illness benefit at the graduated rate of €121.40 per week. Their rate of payment is determined by reference to their weekly income in the governing contribution year

I am pleased to inform you that payment of illness benefit issued by cheque to the person concerned on 5 Nov 2015.

If the person concerned is unable to meet their needs or the needs of their household, they may be entitled to supplementary welfare allowance and may to the department's community welfare services at their local Intreo office or local health centre.