Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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228. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for illness benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22960/16]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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Illness benefit is a payment for people who cannot work due to illness and who satisfy the statutory pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. One of the conditions is that a person must have a minimum of 39 reckonable contributions paid or credited in the governing contribution year. This condition is also regarded as satisfied if the person has a minimum of 26 paid contributions in both the governing year and in the year prior.

Claims made in 2016 are governed by the 2014 tax year, and only PRSI Classes A, E, H, and P are reckonable for illness benefit purposes.

The person concerned has 27 paid contributions in the 2014 year and 25 paid contributions in the 2013 year. The statutory pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions have not been satisfied in this case and Illness Benefit cannot, therefore, be paid.

If the person concerned is unable to meet their needs, they may be entitled to supplementary welfare allowance and should contact the community welfare services at their local Intreo centre.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.