Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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615. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the supports offered to those suffering with long Covid; if they are entitled to long-term illness benefit given the impact of long Covid on their health and ability to work. [14490/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The primary supports available to those suffering with long Covid are available in three stages.  Initially, the person can apply for enhanced illness benefit.  After 10 weeks, they can transfer to standard illness benefit if they meet the eligibility criteria.  If the illness is long-term, they can apply for Invalidity Pension or Disability Allowance.  These supports are outlined below.

My Department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability. It is important to note that entitlement to these supports is generally not contingent on the nature of the illness or disability but on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work.  My Department spent a total of €4.7 billion on illness, disability and caring payments in 2020. 

Illness Benefit is the primary income support payment for people who are unable to attend work due to illness of any type and who are covered by Pay Related Social Insurance contributions.

In March 2020, under the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020 (No. 1) and subsequent regulations, the Government provided for entitlement to Illness Benefit for persons who have been diagnosed with Covid-19 or are a probable source of infection with Covid-19. This enhanced Illness Benefit, however, is a temporary measure that has been extended until the end of June.  €106 million was spend on the enhanced Illness Benefit in 2021.

Enhanced Illness Benefit is payable for 7 days where a person is isolating as a probable source of infection of Covid-19 and up to 10 weeks where a person has been diagnosed with Covid-19.  The measures were designed to limit the spread of the virus, to keep the number of people affected to a minimum, and to avoid extreme pressure on the health system.

In a case where a person continues to be ill beyond 10 weeks, standard Illness Benefit may be paid for an extended period but for a maximum of two years, based on the person’s continued eligibility. Additional payments may be made in respect of a qualified adult and qualifying children.

Where a person becomes permanently incapable of work due to their illness, they can apply for long-term payments.  Disability Allowance is a means-tested payment and Invalidity Pension is based on a person's social insurance record.  Secondary benefits may also be payable if people meet the eligibility criteria.

Apart from these income supports, my Department also provides means tested supports under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who are ill but who do not qualify for Illness Benefit.  My Department may also make an exceptional needs payment to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income.     

My Department keeps the range of income supports under review in order to make sure they meet their objectives.  Any changes to the current system would need to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context. 

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.