Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 April 2026
280. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for invalidity pension made by people with dementia under 66 years-of-age for each of the years 2021 to 2025 and to date in 2026; the number of applications that were accepted, rejected and under review; the main reasons those applications were rejected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27411/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraInvalidity Pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay-related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
A person is regarded as being permanently incapable of work if:
• For the period of 1 year immediately before the date of application the person had been continuously incapable of work and a Deciding Officer or an Appeals Officer is satisfied that the person is likely to continue to be incapable of work for at least another year,
OR
• A Deciding Officer or an Appeals Officer is satisfied that the likelihood is that the person will be incapable of work for life.
The medical condition from which an applicant is suffering is not the sole defining criteria for determining eligibility for the scheme. It is rather how the medical condition impacts on the person’s ability to undertake all types of work. An applicant may be suffering from several different medical conditions each of which may be contributing to the person’s inability to undertake work. For this reason, my Department does not have statistics on the number of people with dementia who apply for IP. Therefore, my Department is not in a position to supply the information in the manner sought by the Deputy.
The table below details the number of IP claims received, awarded and refused during the periods requested.
|
Year |
IP Received |
IP Awarded |
IP Disallowed |
IP Withdrawn |
|
2021 |
8849 |
6109 |
4551 |
1135 |
|
2022 |
8932 |
5918 |
4142 |
1304 |
|
2023 |
11498 |
7651 |
5188 |
1521 |
|
2024 |
9361 |
6795 |
5503 |
1030 |
|
2025 |
8845 |
6345 |
4501 |
914 |
|
2026 to end March |
2504 |
1690 |
1239 |
266 |
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
