Supporting disabled people is a key priority for the Government. My Department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to illness or disability.
Disability Allowance is a means tested social assistance scheme, which is also subject to a medical assessment and habitual residency requirement.
My Department seeks to support persons in receipt of Disability Allowance to pursue educational or training opportunities and as a result, a number of disregards are in place.
There are a number of scholarships including those awarded by certain charitable organisations, which are not assessed as part of the means test for any social welfare payment.
A PhD stipend disregard was introduced effective from 2021, for persons in receipt of Disability Allowance and from 2022 for persons in receipt of Blind Pension who have been granted a bursary, stipend or scholarship towards completing a PhD. An annual disregard of €20,000 was introduced with the disregard available for a maximum of four years.
Any income in excess of the disregard of €20,000 is assessed as means for the purposes of claiming Disability Allowance or Blind Pension.
Any changes to means testing arrangements will have to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.
