My Department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability. It is important to note that entitlement to these supports is generally not contingent on the nature of the illness or disability but on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work. My Department spent a total of €4.7 billion on illness, disability and caring payments in 2020.
The Department’s main income support schemes for people who are ill or who have a disability include Illness Benefit, Invalidity Pension and Disability Allowance.
Illness Benefit is the primary income support payment for people who are unable to attend work due to illness of any type. Additional payments may also be made in respect of a qualified adult and qualifying children. It is payable to those covered by Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) for up to two years, based on the person’s continued eligibility.
Invalidity Pension is a pension paid to people who are 'permanently incapable of work' because of illness or disability. This is also a social insurance payment and is dependent on the claimant’s PRSI contributions and medical conditions.
Disability Allowance is not based on social insurance contribution records and as such is paid to those most in need. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residency test. The assessment of means reflects the fact that there is an expectation that people with reasonable amounts of income or capital are in a position to use these resources to support themselves, so that social welfare expenditure can be directed towards those who need it most.
Where the circumstances of a person in receipt of Disability Allowance changes and they have means in excess of the limits set down in legislation, the payment is discontinued.
It should be noted that for those in financial difficulty, the Supplementary Welfare Allowance, including Urgent Needs Payments or Exceptional Needs Payments, are available through my Department's Intreo centres. This is a means-tested payment administered by this Department’s Community Welfare Service.
The Department regularly reviews its supports and payments schemes to ensure that they continue to meet their objectives. As set out above, a comprehensive set of income support payments is in place for those experiencing illness and disability.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
