Treatment Benefit is a social insurance scheme provided by the Department. Under this scheme, eligible contributors can access dental and optical services, and grants towards certain medical appliances (hearing aids, medical lenses or wigs).
To qualify for most social insurance payments in Ireland, a person must satisfy two conditions, first have a certain number of PRSI contributions paid since they started work and secondly, they must have a certain number of PRSI contributions paid or credited in the relevant or governing contribution year. The Governing Contribution Year is the second last complete contribution year before the benefit year in which the claim is made. The reason for the requirement to have paid contributions in the manner set out in legislation is to demonstrate a person's attachment to the workforce.
Individuals who temporarily leave the workforce due to ill health, caring responsibilities or unemployment may be awarded credited contributions which may help them to qualify for Treatment Benefit. If a person qualifies for Treatment benefit at age 60-65, they keep that entitlement for life.
In addition, depending on a person's circumstances they may qualify for Treatment Benefits based on the social insurance records of their spouses, partners, or cohabitant, if they don’t have enough of their own PRSI contributions.
Any changes to the current system would have to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context, taking account of the prevailing economic circumstances, and in particular the sustainability of the Social Insurance Fund.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
