Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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149. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for partial capacity benefit by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25294/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Partial Capacity Benefit (PCB) is a scheme which extends the Illness Benefit (IB) and Invalidity Pension (IP) schemes to recognise and respond to the reality that some people in receipt of these payments have a capacity to engage in employment while continuing to need to receive some income supports.

People in receipt of IP or IB (the latter for a minimum of 26 weeks) who wish to return to work are eligible for PCB if their capacity for work is reduced as a result of their medical condition.

After the medical assessment, if a person's disability is rated as moderate, severe or profound, their payment continues at 50%, 75% or 100% per cent of their existing rate, respectively. If assessed as mild, they will not qualify for PCB.

The person concerned applied for PCB on the 19 April 2023 and their claim was referred to a Medical Assessor (MA). They have been assessed as having a ‘Moderate’ capacity to work and are eligible for PCB at 50% of their underlying scheme, which is IB in this case. A decision letter issued on 19 May 2023.

On 20 April 2023, PCB section issued an information request to the employer of the person concerned. We are currently awaiting a response to this in order to process the claim further. The person concerned now needs to contact the PCB section to advise when they intend to return to work. Once notified of the 'Return to work' date, a deciding officer will examine if the person meets all the qualifying conditions for receipt of PCB and complete the processing of this application.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.