Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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132. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if possible entitlement to social welfare payment, for example, illness benefit or disability allowance deriving from self employment exists in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11071/17]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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Illness Benefit is an insurance based payment payable to person who satisfy certain PRSI contribution conditions. One of these requires that the person have at least 39 reckonable contributions, either paid or credited, in the governing contribution year which, at present, is the 2015 year. According to my Department’s records the person concerned has no contributions for that year. The last contributions received were in respect of the year 2012. Illness Benefit could not therefore be paid.

I can confirm that my Department received an application for disability allowance from this lady on 30 September 2016. On 10 January 2017 the person concerned was requested to supply supporting documentation required by the deciding officer in order to make a decision on her eligibility. No response was received and a reminder issued on 4 February 2017. No response has been received to date.

On receipt of this information a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.