THE COST of benefits for people who cannot work due to illness exceeded €900 million last year, an increase of 7.9 per cent since 2008, according to figures released by the Department of Social Protection.
An additional €1.142 billion was paid to people claiming disability allowance, a weekly payment for those with a disability expected to last for at least one year.
Some 77,665 people claimed illness benefit last year while 99,576 people claimed disability allowance, at a total cost of €2.062 billion, or €40 million per week.
The number claiming illness benefit is up 7.9 per cent since 2008, with €852 million paid that year compared to €919.6 million last year. In 2000, the figure was €280.8 million. Disability allowance claims increased by 8.6 per cent from €1.052 billion in 2008 to €1.142 billion last year.
More than 12,000 people under the age of 25 claimed disability allowance in 2009, while 1,599 claimed illness benefit.
More than 9,000 people aged 30-34 claimed disability allowance last year, while 10,579 people aged 40-44 claimed. Illness benefit claims were highest among the 55-59 and 60-64 age groups, with 12,626 and 12,884 respectively claiming in 2009.
Almost one-quarter of the 77,665 people in receipt of illness benefit last year cited mental health issues as the reason they were unfit for work.
People claiming illness benefit because of depression or anxiety rose from just over 6,000 in 2001 to almost 10,000 last year. The number citing stress as the major contributing factor in their application for the benefit increased to more than 4,500 last year, from just over 1,000 in 2001.
Injury benefit, which is paid to people who cannot work due to an accident at work or contracting a disease in the workplace, cost the taxpayer more than €20 million in 2009. Some 726 people claimed injury benefit that year.
For claims started since last year, illness benefit can be paid at personal rates of between €88.10 and €196 a week, depending on average weekly earnings, for up to two years if 260 PRSI contributions have been made.
Separate figures released by the Department of Health show some 68 per cent of its employees took sick leave in 2009, down from 72 per cent in 2007 and 2008.
In the Health Service Executive, the absentee rate is 4.7 per cent for the year to the end of June, registering a downward trend on 2008 and 2009, when the rates were 5.76 per cent and 5.03 per cent respectively.
In the Department of Education, 680 staff members took uncertified sick leave during 2008, compared to 692 in 2007.