Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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251. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if all issues that arose in respect of the payment of illness benefit payment to recipients in recent months have now been resolved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39123/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Department experienced some delays following the introduction of a new system and forms for Illness Benefit. The change is part of an on-going programme of modernisation in the Department which took effect from Monday 6 August.

Some GPs have continued to use the old forms after this changeover date which the Department has, to date, continued to accept in the interest of paying our customers. While the continued use of old forms has caused some delays to our processing times, the Department is doing everything possible to ensure that customers are being paid as quickly as possible.

The new process is working well and we are currently processing all applications and certs received on the new forms the day they are received. There is no backlog of new forms.

There is approximately a two day backlog with regard to new claims received on the old forms while practically all certificates received in the old format are being processed on the day they are received.

I trust this clarifies the situation for the Deputy.