Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 October 2023
324. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in reinstating a disability allowance for a person (details supplied) following the cessation of CE scheme; when the payment will be reinstated; when all arrears will be paid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43661/23]
View answerDisability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, means test and Habitual Residency conditions.
The DA payment ceased in January 2022 when the person concerned informed my Department that he had started a CE scheme.
The DA section then received correspondence from the person concerned on 25 May 2023, notifying of a change in his circumstances. At the end of July, his DA entitlement could not be established based on existing data and additional information was sought. This information was received to the DA section on 14 August 2023. Following a review of this information and his DA entitlement, the person concerned was awarded DA with effect from 31 May 2023.
The first payment was made by their chosen payment method on 13 September 2023. Arrears of DA due from 31 May 2023 to 12 September 2023 were also issued to the person concerned on 13 September 2023.
The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 6 September 2023.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
