Vol. 441 No. 3
94 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Health when eligibility for disabled persons maintenance allowance will be determined on medical grounds equal to those applicable for qualification for invalidity pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The regulations governing medical eligibility for disabled person's maintenance allowance specify that the applicant must be suffering from a disability which prevents him/her from undertaking work which would normally be suited to a person of his/her age, experience and qualifications. The disability must be expected to continue for at least one year from its onset and the applicant is also required to be examined by a medical officer of a health board.
Invalidity Pension is administered by the Department of Social Welfare and is payable to a person who is continuously incapable of work for a period of one year and who satisfies an appeals officer that he/she is likely to continue to be incapable of work for at least a further year, or who is incapable of work with evidence produced that the incapacity for work is of such a nature that the likelihood is that the person will be incapable of work for life. Payment of this pension is also subject to the applicant having made the necessary contibutions under the Social Welfare Acts.
The conditions governing medical eligibility for disabled person's maintenance allowance are less stringent than those applying to Invalidity Pension and I have no proposals to change them at present.
