Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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614. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an illness benefit application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43207/18]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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The Department administers the illness benefit scheme to those customers who cannot work because they are ill, they are covered by the appropriate class of social insurance, PRSI, and satisfy the PRSI conditions.

Illness Benefit rates are graduated according to a person's average weekly earnings in the relevant tax year. Average weekly earnings are calculated by dividing the total reckonable gross earnings, without deductions, in the relevant tax year by the actual number of weeks worked in that year. 

The person concerned made an Illness Benefit claim in 2018 so the relevant tax year for this claim is 2016 and her earnings in that year determines her rate of payment.

If the person concerned believes this decision is incorrect, she may ask to have it reviewed setting out in detail the facts on which her review is based and enclose further evidence she considers relevant to her case. On receipt of these details, the Department will review her entitlement. 

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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615. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the illness benefit payment to a person (details supplied) will be normalised; the status of changes to the system which has resulted in delayed or irregular payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43208/18]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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The Department recently moved to a new IT system for illness benefit, IB. Arising from the changeover, some IB customers have experienced payment difficulties which the Department is working hard to resolve.

The person concerned has been paid up to date and normalised payments should now resume.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.