Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 May 2021
181. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for the disability allowance that were rejected in 2020 as a result of the income of a partner or spouse putting the applicant above the means test eligibility threshold. [28523/21]
View answerSocial welfare legislation provides that, for social assistance schemes, all income and capital (such as savings, investments and property (other than the family home) belonging to the claimant and his or her spouse/partner, where applicable, are assessable for means assessment purposes. The purpose of this means assessment is to maintain the overarching policy of ensuring that social welfare expenditure is targeted to those who need it most.
Eligibility for disability allowance (DA) is conditional on satisfying the medical criteria, a means test and being habitual residence in the state. A person applying for DA may be disallowed on one or more of these conditions.
The department does not collate the requested data on the number of applications for disability allowance (DA) that were rejected as a result of the income of a partner or spouse putting the applicant above the means test eligibility threshold and therefore it is not available. The total number of DA applications disallowed in 2020 was 13,559.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy
