James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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1195. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason for the refusal of an invalidity allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5578/20]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I am advised that my Department has not received an application for Invalidity Pension from the person concerned.

However, the Department has received an application for Illness Benefit. I am advised that the person concerned does  not qualify for Illness Benefit as he does not satisfy the PRSI contributions conditions.  

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, of which 13 must be paid contributions at class A, E or H. Alternatively, a person may have 26 weeks of PRSI contributions paid in the relevant tax year, and 26 weeks of PRSI contributions paid in the tax year immediately before the relevant tax year with all such contributions at class A, E or H.

The person concerned was self employed and paying class S contributions in the relevant tax years, which is not a qualifying class of contribution for Illness Benefit. Therefore, he does not satisfy the contribution conditions for Illness Benefit.

A letter issued to the person concerned on the 7th May 2020 giving him the full details of this decision.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.