Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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114. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection about the case of persons (details supplied) who despite both parents being in receipt of the illness benefit payment, and currently receiving half rate qualified child increases on their payments have been deemed ineligible for the €100 cost-of-living lump sum payment per child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53999/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Illness Benefit is a payment for people who cannot work due to illness and who satisfy the pay-related social insurance contribution conditions. Illness Benefit is paid for a maximum of two years and is classified as a short-term scheme.

Only people in receipt of Illness Benefit for at least one year and that are also receiving an increase for a child are entitled to the €100 per child cost of living lump sum payments.

The persons concerned have been in receipt of Illness Benefit from October 2023, and as such do not qualify for the bonus payments.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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115. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) will qualify for treatment benefit scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54000/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Treatment Benefit Scheme provides dental, optical and aural services to insured workers, the self-employed, retired people and their dependent spouse/partner who have the required number of social insurance (PRSI) contributions.

In order to qualify, a person needs to have at least 260 PRSI contributions paid at either Class A, E, H, P or S since first starting work, and also have 39 contributions paid or credited in the relevant contribution year on which the claim is based.

Unfortunately, the person concerned or her spouse do not satisfy the PRSI conditions and therefore are not qualified for the hair replacement benefit under the Department’s Treatment Benefit scheme.

If the person concerned has a Medical Card, she should contact her local HSE office where advice on entitlements under the HSE scheme will be available.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.