Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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788. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason for the denial of illness benefit in the case of a person (details supplied); and if there are available State supports for the person in view of their ongoing disability. [22595/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Department received an application for Illness Benefit from the person concerned on the 10th August 2020. Unfortunately, the person concerned does not satisfy the PRSI qualifying conditions for a payment of Illness Benefit.

In order to qualify for Illness Benefit, a person must have 104 total PRSI contributions paid at class A, E H or P.

A person also 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, H or P. 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, H or P.

The person concerned does not satisfy both of the PRSI conditions necessary for an Illness Benefit payment. She can continue to send in medical certificates in order to receive PRSI credited contributions for the duration of her illness.

A letter issued to the person concerned on the 21st August 2020 giving her the full details of this decision.

It is open for the person concerned to apply for Disability Allowance, which is a means tested payment for those persons unable to work due to a long term illness or disability, and who expect to be out of work for at least one year.

If the person concerned is in urgent need of financial assistance, it is open for her to apply for assistance under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme at her local Intreo Office.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.