Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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326. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for illness benefit in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3909/17]

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 pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. It is payable for a maximum of two years after which a person has to have paid a further 13 reckonable contributions to re-qualify for payment.

The person concerned was in receipt of illness benefit previously and their entitlement exhausted on 3 December 2014. As there have been no further paid contributions since then, illness benefit cannot be awarded at present.

A further certificate of work incapacity was received on 24 November 2016. As some sections of the certificate were not completed, it was found necessary to return it to the person concerned for completion. When it is returned, the question of the award of credited contributions will be considered and they will be notified of the position. Such contributions can be used to qualify for social welfare benefits in the future.

I hope that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.