Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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212. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason disability benefit and allowance was disallowed in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23067/18]

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. While the maximum continuous period of payment is 624 days this is subject to the actual number of contributions the person has paid.

In this case the person concerned has received all Illness Benefit payments due to them - they were entitled to 312 days of payment based on their contribution history. The person concerned would have been entitled to receive further credited contributions after the payment had expired but no further medical certs were received by my Department. However the person concerned has since made an application to the Community Welfare Officer for assistance under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.