I propose to take Questions Nos. 428 and 429 together.
Enhanced Illness Benefit is a form of Illness Benefit payable to employees and the self-employed who are told to self-isolate or restrict their movements, such that they are no longer able to work.
As Enhanced Illness Benefit is a form of Illness Benefit, it is not possible to differentiate between Enhanced Illness Benefit and Illness Benefit in claim processing statistics. Processing statistics for Illness Benefit for the period requested are set out in the table below; these figures are inclusive of Enhanced Illness Benefit.
Recipients of Enhanced Illness Benefit are also provided; these figures may be used to approximate the number of Enhanced Illness Benefit claims awarded, though it is likely some recipients were awarded in an earlier calendar month.
Month
|
Claims Registered
|
Claims Awarded
|
Average Weeks to Award
|
Enhanced Illness Benefit Recipients
|
January 2021
|
52,199
|
39,222
|
1
|
12,472
|
February 2021
|
25,639
|
22,203
|
1
|
5,813
|
March 2021
|
23,590
|
21,002
|
1
|
3,207
|
April 2021
|
21,349
|
18,037
|
1
|
2,221
|
May 2021
|
22,233
|
17,977
|
1
|
1,476
|
June 2021
|
24,522
|
21,165
|
1
|
1,054
|
July 2021
|
32,953
|
22,760
|
1
|
2,191
|
August 2021
|
38,116
|
28,296
|
1
|
3,571
|
September 2021
|
33,918
|
31,115
|
1
|
3,364
|
October 2021
|
30,633
|
25,284
|
1
|
2,836
|