Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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490. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the supports available to people suffering with long-Covid who are unable to work. [4289/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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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.  Budgetary provision is not made in respect of any individual illness or disease. 

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 social insurance contributions.  It may be payable for up to two years, depending on satisfying the eligibility conditions. 

If a person does not qualify for Illness Benefit he or she may consider applying for Disability Allowance.  Disability Allowance is a means-tested scheme for people who have an injury, disease or physical or mental disability that has continued for at least one year, or is expected to continue for at least one year, and because of that disability they are substantially restricted in carrying out work that would be suitable for a person of the that age, experience and qualifications.  

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 or Disability Allowance.  These payments help meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income.

The payment is available to anyone who needs it and qualifies, whether the person is currently on a social welfare payment or in employment.  The payment amount will depend on a person’s weekly household income, their outgoings and the type of assistance needed.

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.