Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 February 2026
762. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale for disability allowance remaining a means-tested payment in Ireland, notwithstanding existing income disregards, particularly in light of the system in the United Kingdom where certain disability income supports are not subject to means testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10175/26]
View answer763. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection whether his Department has considered the experience of Irish citizens returning from the United Kingdom who encounter differences in disability income supports and eligibility criteria, including the use of means testing; whether guidance is provided to assist such individuals in understanding the Irish system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10176/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 762 and 763 together.
My Department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability. These include non-contributory payments, based on a means test, such as Disability Allowance and contributory payments, based on PRSI contributions, such as Invalidity Pension. The purpose of these payments is to provide income support for people experiencing specific contingencies that limit their ability to earn an income.
There are currently approximately 231,000 recipients of disability income support payments, with estimated expenditure of €3.24 billion in 2025.
Invalidity Pension is a social insurance payment for people aged under 66 who cannot work due a long-term illness or disability. It is payable for people who have the required social insurance contributions, and it is not means tested. To qualify, the person must have been incapable of work for at least 12 months and be likely to be incapable of work for at least another 12 months or must be permanently incapable of work. A person must satisfy both medical and social insurance conditions.
Disability Allowance is my Department's primary disability related social assistance scheme. The payment is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residency requirement. The means test takes account of the income a person or couple has in terms of cash, property – other than the family home – and capital.
Applying a means-test ensures that the recipient has an income need and that scarce resources are targeted to those with the greatest need. This approach supports an economically sustainable and socially equitable allocation of scarce resources.
Disability Allowance has one of the highest capital disregards operated by the Department of Social Protection. A recipient can have up to €50,000 in savings and still receive the full rate of payment. This compares with €20,000 for most social welfare payments.
Over the last five budgets the Government has progressively improved payment rates and income disregards for disabled people. The weekly payment rates for Disability Allowance have increased by €51 in that time. The earnings disregard has increased by almost 38% since Budget 2021 from €120 to €165 currently. This enables those in receipt of Disability Allowance to earn more without having a negative impact on their means tested payment. This means that people can earn up to €165 per week and keep their payment in full and can earn up to €527.60 per week and keep a portion of their payment.
The Programme for Government includes a commitment to remove anomalies in the Disability Allowance Means test. In addition, my Department is also conducting a review of means testing generally. Any changes to means tests will be informed by that review.
Information on the disability and other supports provided by my Department is available on gov.ie with contact details also available if additional support is needed. This published information includes details in relation to means testing as well as the habitual residence requirement.
In addition, the Citizens Information website includes the "Returning to Ireland portal" which has information on housing, social welfare, pensions, work and tax, and much more for returning Irish emigrants. It has a page that covers the topic of benefits for people who are sick or have a disability.
Through the Emigrant Support Programme, the Government funds Safe Home Ireland, the Disapora Support Service which provides information and supports to Irish emigrants who are intending to or who have recently returned to Ireland. This includes information in relation to the social welfare system.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
