Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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718. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will ensure that the calculation for illness benefit does not penalise individuals on maternity leave for the period in which the benefit is being assessed. [55437/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Illness Benefit is the main income support for those who cannot work due to illness of any kind and who are covered by social insurance.

The rate of Illness Benefit is calculated based on a person’s average weekly earnings while in insurable employment in the relevant tax year. The relevant tax year is the second last complete tax year, for example 2020 is the relevant tax year for claims submitted in 2022. The calculation does not factor in periods of unemployment or periods on social welfare payments, including maternity benefit.

For this reason, Maternity Benefit should not negatively impact the rate of Illness Benefit if they have PRSI contributions from insurable employment from the same year.

If the Deputy is aware of a particular case of interest, it may be brought to the attention of my department for more specific advice.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.