Dietary Allowance Administration

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 June 2019

Thursday, 13 June 2019

Questions (224)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

224. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the circumstance in which a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 who moved from an invalidity pension to a State pension, contributory, received an additional €50 per week but as a result of this the person lost their diet allowance of €47.87 per month; the reason a person on a State pension, contributory, is not entitled to a diet allowance; and the rationale for a decision in this case. [24778/19]

Written answers

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

I understand from my Department that the Diet Supplement of the person concerned was reviewed in June 2018.  Following this review it was decided that he no longer qualified for this supplement from August 2018.

The person concerned appealed this decision and an Appeals Officer has upheld the Deciding Officer's decision.

Diet Supplement is calculated by taking the weekly diet cost and by deducting one third of a persons weekly social welfare payment from this amount.   

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.