Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 November 2024
639. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44137/24]
View answerDisability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, means test and habitual residency conditions.
The DA claim of the person concerned was reviewed by a Social Welfare Inspector during (SWI) 2023 due to their spouse’s self-employment income. Whilst the review was ongoing the person concerned transferred to Maternity Benefit and their DA was stopped on the 19 August 2023.
Their Maternity Benefit stopped on the 17 February 2024 and they applied to have their DA payment re-instated. An information request issued to the person concerned on the 20 March 2024, requesting details of the household. This information was received back on the 4 April 2024.
Their application was referred back to the SWI on 14 June 2024 for a report on the person’s means, their spouse’s self-employment and circumstances. The SWI met with the person concerned on the 4 July 2024 and again on the 27 July 2024. When all outstanding documents were received, the SWI report was returned for consideration on the 27 September 2024.
Based on the evidence supplied in support of this person’s application review, they were advised that they did not meet the means criteria for receipt of DA, with effect from the 21 February 2024. A means assessment had determined that their means exceeded the statutory maximum allowed under the DA scheme. They were assessed with weekly means of €726.57 which is higher than the statutory limit of €478.00. Means were derived from their spouse’s self-employment.
The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 24 October 2024 and of their right to request a review of this decision or to appeal directly to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
