Covid-19 higher rate illness benefit ends
A higher rate of illness benefit for people who miss work due to Covid-19 comes to an end today.
The Enhanced Illness Benefit (EIB), paid at €350 per week, was available to workers who were told to self-isolate or restrict their movements by a doctor.
If someone receives a Covid-19 diagnosis, or has been advised to self-isolate and have medical certification from their GP, they can still apply for Illness Benefit and, if they qualify, they may be entitled to the standard rate payment of €208 a week.
To get the EIB, employees and self-employed people must have been absent from work due to Covid-19 and had to produce a medical certificate from their GP.
The benefit was paid for a maximum of seven days where a person was self-isolating due to being a probable source of infection, and for a maximum of 10 weeks if a person had been diagnosed with Covid-19.
If someone has been certified beyond today, 30 September, their payment will reduce or stop from tomorrow.
This is dependent on whether or not the person qualifies for the standard Illness Benefit.
The EIB was first introduced at the start of the pandemic.
It was previously extended by the Government in February and again in June.
Article Source: Covid-19 higher rate illness benefit ends – Brian O’Donovan – RTE
