Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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517. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an illness benefit payment will be reinstated for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9266/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Illness Benefit is paid for a maximum of one year if a person has between 104 and 259 total reckonable PRSI contributions paid. It is paid for a maximum of 2 years if a person has over 260 total reckonable PRSI contributions.

The person concerned has been paid for a full year of Illness Benefit. Their entitlement to payment has exhausted as, according to the Department's records, he has 150 total reckonable PRSI contributions paid.

The person concerned has indicated that he worked in the UK for a number of years. My Department has requested the UK PRSI record of the person concerned to ascertain if he has further contributions which can be used to bring his total contributions up to 260 and qualify him for another year of Illness Benefit. Once his UK PRSI record has been received from the UK his claim will be reviewed.

If the person concerned is experiencing difficulties meeting his financial commitments he should contact the Department's representative, formerly known as a Community Welfare Officer, at his local Intreo Centre so that an assessment of his circumstances can be carried out to determine whether he might qualify for assistance under the terms of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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518. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason that a person (details supplied) is unable to receive the fuel allowance given that they are living alone and are in receipt of the invalidity payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9306/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned is in receipt of invalidity pension and disablement benefit.

The person concerned does not qualify for fuel allowance under the National Fuel Scheme as she is in receipt of a disablement benefit payment and disablement benefit is a non qualifying payment for receipt of fuel allowance.

Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, a Heating Supplement may be paid to assist people in certain circumstances that have special heating needs. If a recipient of a social protection or HSE payment has exceptional heating costs due to ill health, infirmity or a medical condition which s/he is unable to meet out of household income, that person may apply for a Heating Supplement.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.