Government announces increase in illness benefit for people impacted by coronavirus

Take note...

The government has officially announced measures to provide income support to people affected by the Covid-19 coronavirus. Three major changes were announced on Tuesday (10 March): The current six-day waiting period for Illness Benefit will not apply to anyone who has contracted Covid-19 or is undergoing medically-required self-isolation. The personal rate of Illness Benefit will increase from €203 per week to €305 per week for a maximum of two weeks medically-required self-isolation or for the full duration of absence from work following a confirmed diagnosis of Covid-19. The normal social insurance requirements for Illness Benefit will be changed or the means test for Supplementary Welfare Allowance will be removed. Further information regarding the above is available here. General public health advice from the Department of Health, meanwhile, is available here. The government has urged all employers to support its national public health objectives by continuing - as a minimum - to pay employees who are unable to attend work due to Covid-19 illness or self-isolation the difference between the special Illness Benefit and their normal wages. As such, the government has issued advice regarding flexible working arrangements, including compassionate leave, allowing employees to work remotely, allowing employees to 'work up' time taken at a future date, allowing for the availing of annual leave and re-arranging parental leave. A range of income supports are also available from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection for individuals whose employers do not continue to pay them during a coronavirus-related absence or temporary lay-off from work. A complete breakdown of information for affected employers and employees is available here.