Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Illness Benefit is the primary short term income support provided by my Department to those who are unable to work due to illness of any type and who are covered by social insurance. Eligibility for Illness Benefit depends on the person’s PRSI record and class. People must have made the required number of contributions under PRSI Class A, E, H or P to qualify. Currently, a person must be under 66 in order to be eligible for Illness Benefit, which aligns with the age at which the State Pension is available.

Once a person reaches 66 years of age they may be entitled a State Pension (Contributory), depending on their contribution history. A person can draw their State Pension (Contributory) and continue to work. If they do not have sufficient PRSI contributions for a State Pension (Contributory) they may be entitled to the State Pension (Non-Contributory), subject to a means test.

With regard to additional supports, my Department also provides an Additional Needs Payment 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.

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. Payments are made at the discretion of the Community Welfare Officers administering the scheme, considering all the circumstances of the case.

I trust that clarifies the matter for the Deputy.