Illness Benefit is paid over a 6-day working week, and excludes Sundays, regardless of how many days or which days a person works. The day of the week that Illness Benefit is paid depends on when the claim is registered and the first day of the illness. The first three days of illness are not paid, and usually, no payment is made for the first 3 days of illness. The payment is made directly to the claimant. If you claim Illness Benefit within 26 weeks of your last IB claim, it is treated as one claim. Late applications will be accepted in certain circumstances.