Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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816. 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. [29931/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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An application for Illness Benefit from 13 December 2018 was received from the person concerned on 15 January 2019.

One of the qualifying conditions for Illness Benefit is that a person must have 39 weeks of PRSI contributions paid or credited in the relevant tax year (or 26 weeks of PRSI contributions paid in the relevant year and the tax year immediately before the relevant year), of which 13 must be paid contributions at class A, E, H or P. 

According to the Department's records, the person concerned does not have any paid or credited contributions in the relevant tax year or in the year before the relevant tax year and therefore does not satisfy the contribution conditions for the receipt of Illness Benefit. 

A decision letter issued to the person concerned explaining the position to him on 16 January 2019.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.