Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael)
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278. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to provide illness benefit to persons who are in full-time employment and in receipt of a contributory widows pension (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6551/18]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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The person concerned made a claim to Illness Benefit and this claim was registered in my Department on 26 January 2018.

The person concerned is in full time employment and there is no limit on the amount they are permitted to earn while also receiving a full rate Contributory Widows Pension.

Both Illness Benefit and Contributory Widows Pension are not payable together. The person concerned could choose to receive Illness Benefit instead of Contributory Widows Pension if she so wishes. However, as the Illness Benefit rate is lower than Contributory Widows Pension, it would not be financially beneficial to do so.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.