John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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855. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) has sufficient contributions to qualify for a non-means tested illness benefit. [56311/23]

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.

The person concerned would not qualify for Illness Benefit as they do not have any reckonable PRSI contributions paid in the relevant tax years.

It is open for the person concerned to make an application for the long-term, means-tested Disability Allowance.

If the person concerned is in urgent need of financial assistance, it is open for them to contact the Community Welfare Officer in their local Intreo office to enquire about assistance under the means-tested Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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856. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the supports that are available for a self-employed person who has to stop working for a period of time due to a diagnosed illness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56326/23]

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 in Class A, E, H or P to qualify.

In general, self-employed people make PRSI contributions at Class S which does not count towards eligibility for Illness Benefit. However, self-employed contributors who cannot work due to an illness or a disability may apply for Disability Allowance, a means-tested social assistance payment, or Invalidity Pension, a social insurance payment.

If the person does not qualify for any of the schemes mentioned above and is encountering difficulties in meeting their basic financial commitments, it is open to them to contact the Community Welfare Service at their local Intreo Centre to see if they might qualify for assistance under the terms of the means-tested Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.