Vol. 412 No. 1
132 Mr. Belton asked the Minister for Health if he will outline his position in relation to applicants for disabled person's maintenance allowance whose spouses are in receipt of long term unemployment assistance and where disabled person's maintenance allowance is disallowed in these instances; and when a ruling will be given in these cases.
Articles 6 and 7 of the Disabled Persons (Maintenance Allowances) Regulations, 1991 which came into operation on 21 July 1991 govern the payment of DPMA to an applicant whose spouse is in receipt of unemployment assistance or other social welfare payment.
The effect of these regulations is that while the spouse applying for DPMA is entitled to payment in his/her own right, the total amount payable to couples in such cases will be limited to the equivalent of one full personal rate and one adult dependant rate.
I might add that these regulations bring the payment of DPMA into line with the arrangements that apply in relation to social welfare payments.
