Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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439. To ask the Minister for Social Protection to backdate to February 2009 the claim of a person (details supplied) who has been deemed eligible again under the disability allowance scheme, the date when eligibility was initially stopped; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9404/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Illness benefit is a payment for people who cannot work due to illness and who satisfy certain pay related social insurance contributions. Illness benefit claims are subject to periodic reviews to determine if the person is still entitled.

The person concerned was in receipt of illness benefit from 1 Apr 2009 to 22 Apr 2015. The claim was disallowed from 23 April 2015 as the person concerned, on a number of occasions, failed to make themselves available for a medical examination by one of my Department’s medical assessors.

The person concerned was notified of this decision and their right of appeal. Despite protracted correspondence the person concerned failed to make themselves available for a medical examination. No appeal against this decision was lodged.

The person concerned contacted my department on 9 Mar 2016 and agreed to make themselves available for a medical assessment. Following this assessment, which took place on 19 Apr 2016, the person concerned was deemed to be eligible for illness benefit which was then was awarded from 09 March 2016, i.e. the day the person indicated their intention to attend an assessment.

If the person concerned is not satisfied with this decision, they may appeal against it by writing to The Chief Appeals Officer, Social Welfare Appeals Office, D’Olier House, D’Olier Street, Dublin 2, I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.