Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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721. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason that bonus payments are not being paid to persons in receipt of illness benefit; her views on whether this is permitted and if it is punishing ill persons who were formerly working; if she plans to introduce a mechanism whereby persons on illness benefit who have low means can apply for the bonus payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55498/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Illness Benefit is not a qualifying payment for the once-off Autumn Cost of Living Double Payment or the Cost of Living Disability Support Grant introduced in Budget 2023.

In the vast majority of cases, Illness Benefit is a short-term payment for those who are certified by their GP as needing to take time out from their employment. This means there is a constant daily churn in terms of Illness Benefit recipients as people take time off/return to work. In addition, in many cases Illness Benefit is paid directly to the employer where sick pay is paid. Most recipients of Illness Benefit still have an attachment to the labour force and there is an expectation that they will return to work.

Long-term Illness Benefit recipients who are permanently incapable of work may be eligible for Invalidity Pension (subject to satisfying the relevant medical criteria and social insurance contributions). Those who are substantially restricted in undertaking suitable employment arising from a medical condition may be eligible for the means-tested Disability Allowance (subject to the relevant medical criteria). All recipients of both of these payments are eligible for additional benefits including free travel and the household benefits package.

My department provides Additional Needs Payments under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme to help meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. This includes exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from a person’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary.

Illness Benefit recipients will benefit from the €12 increase in the maximum weekly rate of this payment from January 2023.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.