David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1012. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if discretion is provided for the provision of supporting medical evidence in all social welfare applications which require same given the Covid-19 situation and the impact on the health service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15282/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department is cognisant of the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the delivery of health care services provided by General Practitioners in the community and by the Health Service Executive hospitals.

Eligibility criteria for the Illness, Disability and Carer’s schemes are stipulated in legislation.

When assessing applications, the Medical Assessors exercise judgement and discretion as pertinent to the case. Medical evidence provided with the application is carefully reviewed along with any medical information held on file.

The claimant's medical condition is assessed for level of severity and expected duration of restriction for work or the need for full time care and attention as the case may be.

Where medical information or specialist reports are unavailable due to Covid-19 restrictions, cases will be examined on an individual basis to determine entitlement, where possible, based on the available information. If a customer contacts the Department and advises that they cannot provide a medical report due to Covid-19, discretion may be applied to allow for additional time to provide any essential medical information.

In the case of Illness Benefit, where a Certificate of Incapacity for Work from a GP is required to accompany the claim, the facility to submit such Certificates electronically was made available to GPs at end-2019. The number of GPs using this facility has grown substantially in 2020, with some 80% of those on the Department’s panel of GPs now submitting Certificates via e-Cert, directly to the Department.

I hope this clarifies the situation for the Deputy.