I propose to take Questions Nos. 735 and 749 together.
My Department provides a suite of income supports for those unable to work due to illness or disability. These include insurance-based schemes, based on Pay Related Social Insurance contributions, and means-tested social assistance schemes.
Invalidity Pension is a weekly payment to people who cannot work because of a long-term illness or disability and who are covered by Pay Related Social Insurance contributions. In order to qualify, a 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, be permanently incapable of work. The payment is payable up to age 66 where a person continues to satisfy the eligibility requirements. At 66, a person automatically transfers to the State Pension (Contributory) at the full rate.
Eligibility can only be established on receipt of a completed application form. Every application for Invalidity Pension is individually assessed, in line with the provisions specified in the relevant social welfare legislation. All decisions on entitlement to Invalidity Pension are notified in writing to the person concerned along with the reason(s) for it. People are also advised of their right to seek a review of this decision or appeal it directly to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
In 2009, persons who were at that time in receipt of Illness Benefit on a long-term basis were, as an exceptional measure, retained on Illness Benefit, subject to continued appropriate certification. Subsequently, individuals in this cohort who had a PRSI record such that they would satisfy that Invalidity Pension contribution requirement were contacted and invited to apply for Invalidity Pension, as they may have been financially better off on that payment. They were not moved to Invalidity Pension unless they made an application and were found to be eligible.
Recipients of Invalidity Pension can avail of the Free Travel pass. In addition, subject to a means test, recipients may also eligible for Fuel Allowance and the Household Benefits Package, subject to meeting the other eligibility criteria for those schemes.
The numbers of customers retained on Illness Benefit since 2009 has steadily decreased over the years and currently there are 4,493 people in that position out of an average number of weekly recipients of Illness Benefit of 53,107.
Since 2009, subject to the level of relevant PRSI contributions paid, Illness Benefit is now payable for a maximum period of two years. Where a person exhausts their entitlement to a payment of Illness Benefit and is expected to remain unfit to attend work for a further period of at least 12 months, they have the option of making an application for Invalidity Pension.
Partial Capacity Benefit, introduced in 2012, provides an opportunity for people who are in receipt of Invalidity Pension or Illness Benefit for more than 6 months to avail of employment opportunities while continuing to receive an income support payment from the Department, in addition to their earnings from employment. The scheme is designed to facilitate greater levels of participation by disabled people in the open labour market.
The personal rate of payment of Partial Capacity Benefit is based on a medical assessment of a person’s restriction regarding their capacity for work, whether the person was in receipt of Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension, and their current rate of payment. After the medical assessment, if a person's disability is rated as moderate, severe or profound their previous payment continues at 50%, 75% or 100% respectively. There is no limit to the amount that people can earn or the number of hours a person can work and continue to receive Partial Capacity Benefit.
A person on Partial Capacity Benefit with an underlying entitlement to Invalidity Pension, can retain their Free Travel Pass for a period of five years.
I am very conscious of using appropriate terminology and that different people have different preferences in relation to the language around disability. The term "invalidity" is widely understood at EU level with “invalidity benefits” being one of the matters covered by the Regulations on the Coordination of Social Security Systems (EC Regulation No. 883/2004). Notwithstanding, I will take the Deputy's feedback on the language into consideration.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
