To be eligible for disability allowance, a claimant must (inter alia) satisfy a medical examination, a means test and be habitually resident in the state. The processing time for individual disability allowance claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main criteria listed above. Certain claims have to be referred to social welfare inspectors for means investigation and this can add to the overall processing times. In addition, factors outside the department's control can have an impact, for example, the supply of relevant information by the customer, employers or other third parties.
The volume of disability allowance claims has increased in recent years as the scheme rules changed to, for example, extend eligibility to persons in residential care and to persons aged 16-18 whose family were previously in receipt of domiciliary care allowance. The general growth in the population and the relatively beneficial terms available to disability allowance applicants, compared to other EU countries, have also had an impact on this growth. Going forward, my Department is addressing the challenge posed by this increased level of activity by deploying new computerised processing systems.
In the meantime, measures taken to reduce delays in claim processing include an increase in the number of claims being desk assessed thus reducing the number of cases being referred for investigation by social welfare inspectors. Since August 2009 all claims are now being desk assessed by medical assessors to determine medical suitability, ongoing review of existing processes and procedures and the approval of overtime working.
In the meantime, people who have urgent income support needs can apply for the means tested supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) from their local community welfare officer.
The department is committed to delivering the best possible service to its customers. Operational processes and procedures and the organisation of work are continually reviewed in all areas of the department, including disability allowance section, to ensure that claims are processed and decided in the most efficient and expeditious way possible, having regard to the eligibility conditions that apply to each scheme.