Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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293. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an appropriate illness payment will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4055/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department received an application for Illness Benefit from the person concerned on the 15th October 2021. She stated on her application that she wished to make a claim from the 4th March 2021. My Department has not received medical certificates from this date and as such her claim was withdrawn. In order to make an application for Illness Benefit, a person must submit medical certificates from the start of their claim.

While my Department has subsequently received more recent electronic medical certificates from the GP of the person concerned, she has not submitted medical certificates for the period of the 4th March 2021, which is the start date of her claim, to the 1st October 2021. My Department requires medical certificates to be submitted for the full period of her absence from work in order to make a decision on her entitlement to Illness Benefit. If this certification for that period is provided, the Department will consider the application.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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294. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the current waiting time for applications for jobseeker’s allowance; the number of persons awaiting a decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4072/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As of 24th January 2022, there are 3,286 applicants awaiting a decision for Jobseeker's Allowance, with an average waiting time of 13 days. According to our latest data, around 98% of applicants for Jobseeker's Allowance are awarded payment within 6 weeks or less of their claim being registered.