Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 November 2025
155. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if he intends on updating the amount of time a person in receipt of disability allowance can spend outside the State within a year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62242/25]
View answerSocial welfare legislation provides that for entitlement to Disability Allowance a person must be habitually resident in the State.
Payment can continue for the first two weeks of absence from the State in any 12-month period. All recipients are required to notify the Department of any changes in circumstance which may impact their payment. This includes plans to be absent from the State. This practices ensures that the payments are made only to people who continue to be eligible for the scheme.
I am satisfied that the current travel arrangements are appropriate. Increasing payment periods while outside the state would call into question whether a person was actually resident in the State. It would also lead to inconsistencies across other social assistance payments as to what is regarded as a “temporary absence” from the State.
Any further changes to these arrangements would have legislative implications and could only be considered in an overall budgetary and policy context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
