Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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319. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress that has been made 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. [10599/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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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.

As advised in Parliamentary Questions 402 and 460 which were on 16 November 2021 and 8 February 2022 respectively, the person concerned does not meet the PRSI conditions necessary for payment of Illness Benefit and a letter issued to her explaining the situation.

My Department currently has no record of an application for Disability Allowance from the person concerned. If she expects to be incapable of work for at least one year, she should make an application so that her entitlement can be determined.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.