Disability allowance is a means-tested social assistance payment which is paid to people with a disability who are substantially handicapped in undertaking work which would otherwise be suitable for a person of their age, experience and qualifications.
The right of a person to retain a social security payment when moving to another member state is governed by national legislation and EU social security regulations. While social insurance based payments can be paid when a person moves to another member state, payments which are classified by EU regulations as being "special non-contributory benefits" are not generally payable outside the State.
For the purposes of the EU social security regulations, disability allowance is classified as a special non-contributory benefit and accordingly is not payable outside Ireland. The only exception to this is in circumstances where the person is receiving medical treatment in a hospital abroad, in which case payment of disability allowance may continue for the duration of such treatment.