Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 July 2025
106. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person who was in receipt of a blind pension prior their 66th birthday is no longer able to receive this pension or if they are no longer considered blind upon turning 66; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38266/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a suite of income supports for those unable to work due to illness or disability. These include insurance-based schemes, based on Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions, and means-tested social assistance schemes.
The primary social assistance scheme for people who are blind or visually impaired is the Blind Pension, which is a means-tested payment, and the only income support payment designed to cater for a specific disability. The maximum personal rate of Blind Pension is currently €244 per week.
Blind Pension is a working age payment paid to people aged 18 to 66 years. Eligibility for Blind Pension requires that a person’s vision is impaired to such an extent that they cannot perform any work for which eyesight is essential or cannot continue in their ordinary occupation.
Where a recipient of Blind Pension turns 66 they may qualify for a State Pension, Contributory or Non-Contributory. Those payments are made to people who have reached pensionable age 66 and who satisfy the qualifying conditions.
Currently, the maximum weekly personal rate of, the means tested, State Pension (Non-Contributory) is €278, that is €36 per week more than the maximum personal rate of Blind Pension. So there is no loss for a person who moves from Blind Pension to State Pension (Non-Contributory) on turning 66.
Any person experiencing financial hardship may seek financial assistance under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme, by way of an Exceptional Needs Payment or Urgent Needs Payment. This scheme does not have age criteria.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
