Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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402. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for illness benefit in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56048/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned is currently in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP).

In order to qualify for Illness Benefit, a person must have 39 PRSI contributions paid or credited in the second last complete tax year from which the claim is made, or they must have 26 reckonable PRSI contributions paid in both the second last complete tax year and the year prior to that. They must also have at least 13 PRSI contributions paid in one of the past 5 years from which the claim was made.

The person concerned does not meet the PRSI conditions necessary for payment of Illness Benefit. A letter will issue to the customer on 15 November explaining the situation.

If the person concerned expects to be incapable of work for at least one year, it is open for her to apply for the long term, means tested Disability Allowance scheme.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.