Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Renua Ireland)
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38. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding illness benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1588/16]

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 were 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 22 April 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.

The person concerned is currently in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance at the maximum rate.

An application for disability allowance was received from the person concerned by the department on 26 June 2015. The application, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds and the person in question was notified in writing of this decision on 21 October 2015. The person concerned was also notified of their right to a review of this decision or to appeal it to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.