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Social Welfare Benefits

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 May 2021

Wednesday, 26 May 2021

Questions (176)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

176. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will exclude arts grants and funding for artists from means testing for the blind pension and disability allowance to bring certainty to artists with disabilities and enable them to avail of funding without fearing loss of basic supports; and her views on whether the current means testing system causes unnecessary anxiety, stress and discouragement for artists with disabilities from reaching their full potential. [28518/21]

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Written answers

Social welfare legislation provides that, for social assistance schemes such as Disability Allowance, income and capital (such as savings, investments and property other than the family home) belonging to the claimant and his or her partner, where applicable, is assessable for means assessment purposes. The purpose of this is to maintain the policy of ensuring that social welfare expenditure is targeted to those who need it most.

The assessment of means can vary from scheme to scheme depending on the nature and purpose of the scheme. Sometimes, a certain amount of income, or income from particular sources, is not taken into account for a particular scheme. This is known as an income disregard.

There is an earnings disregard in place for recipients of Disability Allowance which allows people to earn up to €120 per week (increasing to €140 per week in June) and retain their full payment. Only half of earnings between €120 and €350 are assessed in the means test. This aims to achieve a balance between ensuring resources are targeted towards those with the greatest need while supporting people to take up employment opportunities.

In addition, Disability Allowance is unique in the social welfare system as the first €50,000 of capital (e.g. savings, shares, property) is disregarded in the capital means test. This compares to €20,000 for most other social assistance schemes.

Legislation does not provide for a disregard for funding from grants for artists and as such, any awards made through these types of schemes are assessed as income in the means test.

Any extension of means disregards would need to be examined in an overall budgetary context.

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