Written answers

Tuesday, 26 June 2018

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Treatment Benefit Scheme Administration

Photo of Louise O'ReillyLouise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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551. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the med 2 form needs a signature from the spouse of the claimant; the arrangements made to facilitate a claim without this signature in cases in which the claimant and spouse are estranged, for example in the case of domestic abuse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27745/18]

Photo of Regina DohertyRegina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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A person who wishes to obtain treatment benefit (TB) as a dependent spouse on their spouse's/partner's PRSI record, must complete an eligibility check form, e.g. ME2 for hearing aids, to have their eligibility assessed. In order to determine eligibility the Department must confirm two things, firstly that the insured spouse/partner satisfies the PRSI contributions requirement and secondly that the person seeking TB is financially dependent on them.

To ensure compliance with the General Data Protection Regulations, the Department seeks the written consent of both parties to their data being used to make the necessary eligibility enquiries. The insured spouse is asked to consent to the Department accessing their PRSI record to qualify their dependant spouse/partner; they are not asked to consent to their spouse having the treatment.

Where a person indicates that they are not in a position to obtain their spouse/partners signature on the form, the Department can still proceed to determine eligibility. In these cases, they should indicate in writing the particular circumstances that apply when submitting the relevant eligibility check form to the Department. The necessary enquiries will then be made to establish eligibility and to advise the customer accordingly.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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