Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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503. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a payment for illness benefit will be processed in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34799/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned does not qualify for Illness Benefit as he does not satisfy the PRSI contribution 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, 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 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 payment of Illness Benefit.

A letter issued to the person concerned on the 4th November 2020 giving him the full details of this decision.

Should the person concerned be in need of urgent financial assistance, it is open to him to contact the Community Welfare Service at her local Intreo Centre.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.