Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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84. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an entitlement to a Disability Allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46817/15]

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. One of the PRSI conditions is that a person must have a minimum of 39 reckonable contributions paid or credited in the governing contribution year. Claims made in 2015 are governed by the 2013 tax year and only PRSI Classes A, E, H, and P are reckonable for illness benefit purposes.

The person concerned made a claim to illness benefit and this claim was received in my department on 24 Aug 2015. This claim was disallowed as the person concerned does not satisfy the above contribution criteria. The person concerned has been notified of this decision.

Disability Allowance is a weekly allowance for people with a disability aged between 16 and 66. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year. The person concerned must pass a medical exam, a means test and be habitually resident in Ireland to get the allowance.

No application for disability allowance has been received in my department from the person concerned to date. Further information on disability allowance is available on my department’s website

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 should contact the department's community welfare services at their local Intreo office.