Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2026
704. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection when the eligibility criteria for disability allowance was last reformed; and when an additional illness or medical condition was last included for the purpose of broadening the qualifying criteria. [14088/26]
View answerDisability Allowance is my Department's primary social assistance payment for disabled people who are aged between 16 and 66. Eligibility for this payment is dependent on the recipient having an injury, disease or disability that has continued, or may be expected to continue, for at least one year and, as a result of this disability, the person is substantially restricted in undertaking work that would otherwise be suitable for a person of their age, experience and qualifications. The payment is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residency requirement.
Eligibility for Disability Allowance is not dependent on the type or category of illness or disability. Rather, entitlement is contingent on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work.
The eligibility criteria for the Disability Allowance payment, as set out in Section 210 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, was last amended in 2019. Importantly, this amendment made provision so a person can continue to receive their payment while engaged in a prescribed course of education, training or development.
Since then there have been a number of other changes to the scheme, particularly the means test. Since October 2020, ex gratia State Claims Agency payments for Pandemrix vaccine claims settled are specifically excluded from the means assessment. From September 2020, certain PhD bursaries, scholarships and stipends are disregarded for means purposes. The value of disregard is up to €20,000 per year for up to four years. Since 4 June 2024, child maintenance payments are no longer included in the means test.
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 payment.
In addition, the personal rate of payment has been increased, most recently in Budget 2026 which increased the rate to €254 per week from January. In Budget 2026, I also provided for the highest ever increases in the weekly Child Support Payment - an increase of €16 to €78 for children aged 12 or over and of €8 to €58 for children aged under 12.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
