Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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1052. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the alternate options available to persons if they do not have the required 13 paid contributions in the relevant tax year but do have them in the current tax year will be addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54170/18]

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 was advised by letter dated 9th January 2019 that he was not entitled to payment of Illness Benefit as he does not satisfy all of the contribution conditions.

Although the person concerned satisfied the first PRSI contribution qualifying condition, he unfortunately does not satisfy the second PRSI qualifying condition, which is as follows:

- 39 weeks of PRSI contributions paid or credited in the relevant tax year, of which 13 must be paid contributions. If a person does not have 13 paid contributions in the relevant tax year, then 13 paid contributions in oneof the following tax years can be used instead:

- Either of the two tax years before the relevant tax year

- The last complete tax year (before the year in which your claim for Illness Benefit begins)

- The current tax year

or

26 weeks of PRSI contributions paid in the relevant tax year, and26 weeks of PRSI contributions paid in the tax year immediately before the relevant tax year.

The relevant tax year is the second-last complete tax year before the year in which your claim for Illness Benefit begins.

The person concerned has no contributions in 2016 and 4 contributions in 2017, meaning he does not have enough contributions in the relevant tax yearsto qualify for payment.

It is open to the person concerned to apply for Disability Allowance if he has 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 he can apply for assistance under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme at his local Intreo centre.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.