Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2023
751. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide details on the proposed structure of means testing under the green paper on disability allowance; how cohabitating couples will be assessed; and what the income threshold would be. [48208/23]
View answerThe Green Paper on Disability Reform is my department’s response to our commitment under the Roadmap for Social Inclusion to develop and consult on proposals to restructure long-term disability payments and to simplify the system.
The Paper addresses concerns raised in the Pathways to Work Strategy and the Make Work Pay report, and the recommendations given in the Cost of Disability report.
The main proposal of the Green Paper is to merge the social welfare assistance payments, Disability Allowance and Blind Pension, and the social insurance payment, Invalidity Pension, into a new Personal Support Payment with contributory and non-contributory streams.
Current eligibility for these long-term disability payments is based on either PRSI contributions or a means test, in addition to medical and habitual residency requirements. The Green Paper does not propose any changes to the means, habitual residence and contributory requirements currently in place.
The Green Paper does, however, outline a possible approach to in-work supports in the form of a working age payment type model. Under this approach, which is based on the Working Family Payment, a person would receive a payment based on a percentage of the difference between their income and a specified threshold.
It is important to highlight that the proposals in the Green Paper are not final. They are a starting point for a structured discussion on the future of long-term disability payments.
It is essential we hear from as many disabled people and representatives as possible. I encourage all those with an interest to express their views in our public consultation by making a submission or attending one of our public consultation events in Dublin, Cork and Athlone this month.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
