Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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1315. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) did not receive a full illness benefit payment recently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13856/19]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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1316. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) did not receive a full illness benefit payment for a week in December 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13857/19]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1315 and 1316 together.

The person concerned has been awarded Illness Benefit at the maximum rate of €198 per week and should continue to submit medical certification from his doctor for the period he is absent from work due to illness. 

The person concerned received a payment of €132 for the period 31st December 2018 to 3rd January 2019, which was the date on the medical certificate submitted. The Department received a further certificate on the 9th January 2019, for the period 4th January to 10th January 2019 and his next payment of €198 was issued to him.

The same issue arose in respect of the person concerned on the 8th March when a payment of €132 issued for the period 8th March to 12th March, which was the date on the medical certificate submitted. The Department received a further certificate on the 11th March 2019 and the remaining €66 for that week issued to him.

The claim from the person concerned is currently paid up to date and he is medically certified until the 4th April 2019.  As payment to him is due each Friday, he should ensure that his medical certificate covers the period from Friday to the following Thursday each week. This ensures that he receives the full rate of Illness Benefit on a weekly basis. 

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.