John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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319. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the illness benefits that are available to a person (details supplied). [13610/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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To date, my department has not received an application for any of the illness related schemes from the person concerned.

In order to qualify for a payment under the terms of the Illness Benefit scheme, a person must have paid a prescribed number of reckonable PRSI contributions in the relevant tax years prior to their claim. It appears that the person concerned would not qualify for an Illness Benefit payment as he has been paying Class S contributions paid by the self employed in the relevant tax years. Class S contributions are not considered reckonable contributions for Illness Benefit.

If the person concerned feels that he is permanently incapable of attending work or expects to be unable to do so for at least a further year, it is open to him to make an application for the long-term illness schemes of Invalidity Pension or Disability Allowance.

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.