Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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45. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) in County Cork under the illness benefit scheme, including why the payment did not issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3393/16]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Social Welfare regulations prescribe that the time for making an Illness Benefit claim is 7 days from the date of commencement of illness. For claims received more than 7 days after commencement of illness, where good causehas been shown for the delay in making the claim, it may be admitted from an earlier date subject to the condition that no benefit may be paid for any period which is more than 6 months before the actual date on which the claim was received in the Department.

Under the Claims and Payments Regulations S.I. 102 of 2012, the period for which payment may be back-dated may be extended beyond 6 months in the following circumstances:

(a) where the failure to claim within the prescribed time arose as a result of information supplied by staff of this Department to the customer or to someone acting on their behalf.

(b) where the delay arose because a customer was so incapacitated by illness that they were not able to make the claim or instruct another person to act on their behalf.

The person concerned made a claim to illness benefit on 22 December 2015 in respect of the period from 3 March 2015 to 14 March 2015. The claim was outside the 6 months period and the reason given for not claiming within the prescribed time limit did not allow for the back dating of the claim.

The person concerned was informed of this decision on 7 January 2016 and also of the right of review and an appeal to the independent Appeals Office.