Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 June 2023
433. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the changes introduced to illness benefit since 27 June 2020; and if she will detail the number of recipients, by county, benefitting from these changes, in tabular form. [31131/23]
View answerIllness Benefit is a weekly payment made to people aged under 66 who satisfy prescribed PRSI contribution conditions and who are medically certified as being unable to attend work due to illness.
In January 2021, there was a €5 increase in the personal rate for Illness Benefit and increases in the rates paid in respect of qualified adult dependants and child dependants.
In March 2021, a change in the Illness Benefit scheme saw a reduction in the number of waiting days from six to three. There is no payment for waiting days.
In January 2022,there was a €5 increase in the personal rate of Illness Benefit and the rates paid in respect of qualified adult dependants and child dependants.
In December 2022, those who had been in receipt of Illness Benefit for a period of at least 12 months received the Christmas Bonus payment. This was the first time Illness Benefit was included in the Christmas Bonus payments.
In January 2023, there was a €12 increase in the personal rate of Illness Benefit, bringing it to €220, and the rates paid in respect of qualified adult dependants and child dependants.
In April 2023, those who had been in receipt of Illness Benefit for a period of at least 12 months received the €200 Spring Cost of Living Bonus.
Since March 2021, the number of Illness Benefit customers who have received a payment from day four of their claim broken down by county is in the table below.
|
County |
Number of Customers |
|
Carlow |
5,091 |
|
Cavan |
5,824 |
|
Clare |
7,644 |
|
Cork |
44,029 |
|
Donegal |
10,367 |
|
Dublin |
88,368 |
|
Galway |
20,584 |
|
Kerry |
10,214 |
|
Kildare |
17,416 |
|
Kilkenny |
6,133 |
|
Laois |
6,359 |
|
Leitrim |
2,404 |
|
Limerick |
16,498 |
|
Longford |
3,241 |
|
Louth |
11,842 |
|
Mayo |
10,487 |
|
Meath |
14,924 |
|
Monaghan |
4,369 |
|
Offaly |
5,800 |
|
Roscommon |
4,579 |
|
Sligo |
4,937 |
|
Tipperary |
12,384 |
|
Waterford |
10,008 |
|
Westmeath |
7,492 |
|
Wexford |
11,805 |
|
Wicklow |
9,438 |
|
Address outside of State |
3,197 |
|
Total |
355,434 |
These figures exclude any customers who received Enhanced Illness Benefit since March 2021. Customers did not have to serve waiting days to receive Enhanced Illness Benefit - this scheme closed in September 2022.
I trust that clarifies the position for the Deputy.
