Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 20 Mar 1991

Vol. 406 No. 7

Written Answers. - Disabled Person's Maintenance Allowance.

Emmet Stagg

Question:

216 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a single person on disabled persons maintenance allowance who decides to marry another person in receipt of this allowance, suffers a major drop in their combined weekly income of £21 from £104 per week pre-marriage to £83 per week after marriage; having regard to the special needs of these people, if he will consider making allowance for such an occurrence by allowing both of the individuals when married to claim separate payment of disabled person's maintenance allowance at the full personal rate of £52 per week, and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon)

In accordance with section 69 of the Health Act, 1970, and regulations made thereunder, health boards, in determining the amount of disabled persons maintenance allowance payable, are obliged to have regard to both the income of the applicant and the income of his-her spouse.

The current single personal rate of disabled persons maintenance allowance is £52 per week. The maximum rate payable to a married couple is £83 per week. This rate applies to all married persons who are dependent on disabled persons maintenance allowance irrespective of their individual entitlements prior to marriage. As in the case of other social assistance allowances, the rate of disabled persons maintenance allowance payable to a married couple is the personal rate plus an adult dependant allowance. It is not proposed to change these arrangements.