Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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637. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application for illness benefit by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53249/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Department administers the Illness Benefit scheme to those customers who cannot work because they are sick or ill, provided they are covered by the appropriate class of social insurance (PRSI) and satisfy the PRSI conditions.

The person concerned does not satisfy the PRSI qualifying conditions for a payment of Illness Benefit. It is open to the person concerned to apply for Disability Allowance if she is suffering from an incapacity that is likely to last for at least one year. Disability Allowance is a means tested scheme. If the person concerned has an urgent financial need she can apply for assistance under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme at her local Intreo centre.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Illness Benefit claim for the person concerned has been processed and is paid up to the 15th December 2015.

The person concerned claimed Illness Benefit from the 3rd December 2018 but as no payment is made for the first six days of Illness, these are commonly known as waiting days, payment commenced from the 10th December 2018.

The claim is medically certified up to the 13th January 2019.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.