Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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288. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration has been given to reducing the six-month eligibility rule to move from illness benefit to partial capacity benefit given that there are circumstances where a person suffers an injury or condition which reduces their ability to work for the medium to long-term, but where they could return to work on a part-time basis within several months of receiving illness benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46601/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides income supports for those unable to work due to illness or disability, both social insurance and means tested schemes. There is a range of schemes available to people who make Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions.

Invalidity Pension is a social insurance payment for people who are deemed permanently incapable of work due to a long-term illness or disability. Eligibility is subject to a medical assessment and PRSI contribution conditionality.

Illness Benefit is the primary income support payment for people who are unable to attend work due to illness, and who have made the necessary PRSI contributions. Certification for the scheme is by the person’s treating physician, in most cases a General Practitioner.

The Partial Capacity Benefit scheme allows a person who is in receipt of Invalidity Pension or Illness Benefit (the latter for 26 weeks) to enter or return to employment or self-employment and to continue to receive a partial or full payment. Following a medical assessment, if a person's restriction regarding their capacity for work is rated as moderate, severe or profound their payment continues at 50%, 75% or 100% of their previous income support payment. Partial Capacity Benefit has also been designed so there are no restrictions or limits on earnings from employment or on the number of hours a person can work.

There are no plans to reduce the 26 weeks eligibility rule from Illness Benefit to Partial Capacity Benefit at this time.

It is worth noting that under the Roadmap for Social Inclusion and Pathways to Work strategies, the Department has committed to developing and consulting on a ‘strawman’ proposal for the restructuring of long-term disability payments to simplify the system; remove inconsistencies and anomalies, recognise the continuum of disability and to support employment. Work is currently underway within the Department, with a public consultation process to commence in due course.

My Department will continue to keep its range of supports under review to ensure that they meet their overall 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.