Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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997. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person who is cocooning for medical reasons is entitled to the full pandemic unemployment payment. [10980/20]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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A person who is cocooning for medical reasons is not entitled to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment unless they meet the conditions of the payment including that they:

- have lost their job due to the COVID-19 pandemic or

- have been temporarily laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic

In these situations their eligibility for the payment is based on their employment status, not on their health status.

A new enhanced rate of Illness Benefit was introduced in March in response to the infectious disease, COVID-19.  A person who is cocooning for medical reasons is not entitled to this payment unless they have been:

- diagnosed with an infectious disease or

- are a probable source of infection of an infectious disease.

In recognition of the concerns raised by individuals and support groups in relation to those cocooning on health grounds, the Department introduced a policy change in May.  Where a person is not eligible for the enhanced rate of Illness Benefit, standard Illness Benefit payment may be payable subject to normal certification and eligibility criteria to a person with a serious health condition, where a medical practitioner certifies that a person is incapable of work due to the medical condition.  This may be paid for an extended period, depending on the person’s continued eligibility.