James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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561. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position on an application for illness benefit by a person (details supplied); when payment will commence; if there was a delay in the processing of same; the reason a medical certificate as signed by a doctor in the hospital was not acceptable; the reason the person was required to pay for a general practitioner to provide a medical certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8634/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Injury Benefit is a weekly payment in respect of incapacity for work due to an accident arising out of and in the course of employment. For the purpose of the scheme, an accident while on an unbroken journey between one’s normal place of residence and one’s place of employment, is regarded as an accident at work. Benefit can be paid for up to 26 weeks from the date of the accident / injury /disease.

The person concerned made a claim for Occupational Injury Benefit which was registered in on 31 January 2018. There is no payment for the first 6 days of Injury Benefit and no payment for Sundays. Claims are dealt with in chronological order and, under normal circumstances, it takes approximately two weeks from the date of registration to receive payment on a claim. The person concerned received a payment to their bank account on 12 February 2018.

In the first instance, a letter from a hospital is required following a customer’s treatment there. However, a social welfare certificate is necessary in order to process a claim. The certificate can only be obtained from a G.P., who is reimbursed from my Department. There is no charge to the patient for the certificate. It is at discretion of the G.P. whether to charge for a consultation.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.