Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Renua Ireland)
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136. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an application under the invalidity pension scheme by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44024/15]

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.

The department received a claim for IP for the person concerned on 03 June 2015. The person concerned was refused IP on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. He was notified on the 25 June 2015 of this decision, the reasons for it and of his right of review and appeal.The person in question appealed the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) who upheld the department’s decision and disallowed the appeal. The person in question was notified on the decision of the AO on 24 November 2015.

Illness benefit (IB) is a short-term payment for persons who are incapable of work and who satisfy the PRSI conditions. The medical conditions for the receipt of IP and IB are not the same and qualification for the latter scheme does not imply qualification for the former scheme. The letter from the SWAO dated 7^thAugust 2015, referred to in the details attached to your question, relates to the person’s eligibility for the IB scheme and not eligibility for IP.