The number of “waiting days” for the standard Illness Benefit payment is being reduced from six days to three.
This will mean that the payment will now be paid from the fourth day of illness and the changes come into effect from today.
Since January 2014, payment of Illness Benefit started from the seventh day of illness and no payment was made for the first six days, known as ‘waiting days’.
Illness Benefit is a short-term payment that's available to employees who are insured under PRSI at Classes A, E and H.
Speaking about the changes, the Social Protection Minister, Heather Humphreys said: “In Budget 2021, I was pleased to restore the original ‘three waiting days’ condition for the Illness Benefit payment.
“Reducing the number of ‘waiting days’ for Illness Benefit will help reduce the financial burden for employees who become ill.
“The majority of people who become ill are only ill for a short period of time. For the past number of years, all employees who became ill and claimed Illness Benefit from the Department of Social Protection were not paid for the first week (six days) that they were out of work.
The reduction in the waiting days is expected to have a significant impact in terms of the number of people who may benefit.
Last year, the Department of Social Protection received some 200,000 applications for Illness Benefit and each of those employees would have had to forego six waiting days.
Minister Humphreys also reminded people that there are no waiting days for the special Covid-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit payment, which is paid, subject to medical certification by a doctor, from day one of a person being diagnosed or required to self-isolate.
