Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2026
639. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection whether any internal administrative guidance, medical assessment protocols, or decision-making frameworks relating to eligibility for disability allowance have been amended, revised, or updated since 1 January 2020; and if so, if he will outline the nature and date of those revisions. [16714/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraDisability 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.
There have been a number of changes to the Disability Allowance scheme since 1 January 2020, primarily to the means test.
Budget 2020 saw the Blind Welfare Allowance exempt from the means assessment for Social Welfare schemes.
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 October 2020, ex gratia State Claims Agency payments for Pandemrix vaccine claims settled are specifically excluded from the means assessment.
The earnings disregard has increased by almost 38% since Budget 2021 from €120 to €165 currently. In June 2022, the upper limit of disregard from earnings from work was increased from €350 to €375. This enables those in receipt of Disability Allowance to earn more without having a negative impact on their payment.
The means rate bracket was changed to benefit people getting a reduced Disability Allowance rate, the first weekly means band increased from €2.50 in 2020 to €7.60 currently.
In January 2022, the income threshold for Fuel Allowance increased from €100 to €120 to €200 currently.
In July 2024, the Government extended Free Travel Scheme to people aged over 17 and under age 66, who have never been medically fit to drive due to a disability or are medically certified as unfit to drive for a period of at least 12 months.
People moving from Disability Allowance to take up work will be able to retain their eligibility for the Free Travel scheme for 5 years.
Since 4 June 2024, child maintenance payments are no longer included in the means test.
In Budget 2025, the amount not taken into account when a person sells their home to move into care increased to €337,500 for those who get Disability Allowance.
In Budget 2026, people moving from Disability Allowance to take up work will be able to retain their Fuel Allowance payment for up to five years. The Back to Work Family Dividend is also being extended to this group, where they have children.
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. There has been a €51 per week increase in the weekly disability income support payment since 2021.
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.
Increases to the Qualified Adult, Fuel Allowance and Living Alone Allowance has increased to the current rates of €168.60, €38 weekly and €22 respectively.
It is standard practice that when changes such as these are which impact on a person's eligibility for a payment the scheme guidelines are amended to reflect the new position. All scheme guidelines are available on gov.ie
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
