Disability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance for people with a disability aged between 16 and 66 with a disability expected to last for at least one year and who satisfy the medical condition, means test and are habitually resident in Ireland.
The Department does not collate data on the number of DA applications which are refused due to their means being in excess of the statutory limit for their circumstances. While figures for the total number of applications which were refused are available and are outlined beneath, it is important to note that these applications may have been refused for not meeting any of the range of qualifying conditions for receipt of DA.
The number of persons in receipt of DA and the total number of DA applications which were disallowed at the end of the years 2010 to 2020 and to the end of April 2021 are outlined in the table below:
Year
|
Number of DA recipients
|
Number of DA applications disallowed
|
2010
|
101,111
|
10,316
|
2011
|
102,866
|
14,116
|
2012
|
101,784
|
14,519
|
2013
|
106,279
|
12,497
|
2014
|
112,097
|
12,621
|
2015
|
119,042
|
14,800
|
2016
|
126,203
|
12,027
|
2017
|
133,929
|
12,022
|
2018
|
140,835
|
12,682
|
2019
|
146,755
|
13,981
|
2020
|
152,580
|
13,559
|
2021 to end of April
|
153,805
|
5,057
|
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.