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. These include contributory payments, based on PRSI contributions, such as Illness Benefit and Invalidity Pension, and non-contributory payments, based on a means test, such as Disability Allowance.

Entitlement to these supports is contingent on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work. It is not dependent on the nature of the illness or disability.

A person who can no longer work due to ill health after COVID may be covered, like all other conditions, by the range of disability-related payments provided by my department, which are not condition-specific.

Illness Benefit is a short-term social insurance scheme. It is available for up to two years for people who have the required social insurance contributions. Their doctor must submit a Certificate of Incapacity to Work to the Department.

Invalidity Pension is a longer-term social insurance scheme, based on PRSI contributions and medical condition. In order to qualify, the person must have been incapable of work for at least 12 months and be likely to be incapable of work for at least another 12 months; or must be permanently incapable of work. Over 57,000 were in receipt of Invalidity Pension in February 2024.

Disability Allowance is a longer-term social assistance scheme. In order to qualify, the person must satisfy a habitual residency condition, a means test and meet the medical requirement. The medical requirement for Disability Allowance is that the person's disability must be expected to last for at least one year, and the disability must substantially restrict a person’s ability to work. Over 162,700 people were in receipt of Disability Allowance in February 2024.

A Temporary Scheme of Paid Leave was developed by the Department of Health for certain public health sector employees who were unfit to work after a COVID-19 infection. This scheme was due to end on 31 March 2024 but has been extended for a further three months.

Any person experiencing financial hardship may seek financial assistance under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme. To qualify, the person must satisfy a habitual residency condition and the means assessment. They must have also applied for any other benefit or allowance they are entitled to and registered for work with Intreo, if they are of working age.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.