Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 May 2021
137. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the changes that will be made to the disability allowance given the fact that the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payments were significantly higher than the rate of the disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25552/21]
View answerMy Department provides a range of income supports for persons with disabilities; these supports include the Disability Allowance (DA) scheme.
Disability allowance is a means tested payment and is subject to a habitual residency requirement.
The current weekly personal rate for Disability Allowance is €203. The rate of payment may be increased where there are dependent children or a dependant adult. Persons in receipt of Disability Allowance are eligible for the Free Travel Scheme (pass) and may qualify for secondary benefits, such as the Household Benefits Package, and for supplementary welfare payments.
As part of the Government’s overall response to the pandemic, my Department introduced a short-term emergency payment, the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP). The Pandemic Unemployment Payment is a payment for employees and the self-employed who are fully unemployed due to a downturn in economic activity related to COVID-19. Employees who are laid off temporarily, without pay, due to a reduction in business activity, can also apply.
The rate of payment of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is linked to a claimant’s previous earnings. The initial rate was set at €350 and was broadly equivalent to average take-home pay levels in the sectors most immediately affected by the restrictions imposed to deal with the emergency and is broadly aligned with the standard social welfare payment rate for a two-person household.
Finally, any proposals for increases to income support payments, including for the Disability Allowance, would have budgetary implications, and as such would need to be considered in the context of the annual budget process.
