Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 December 2023
360. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection If a disability allowance will be approved as a matter of urgency for a person (details supplied) considering the medical report provided by her GP. [53445/23]
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.
There is no medical review ongoing for the person concerned and they have been in receipt of their current DA payment since 22 July 2020.
My Department received correspondence from the person concerned on 29 August 2023, notifying a change of circumstances regarding their DA. I can confirm that this person's previous means review was carried out on 5 April 2023. At that time, they were assessed with weekly means of €193.40 resulting in a DA payment rate of €32.50.
A request for information issued to the customer on 20 November 2023. Once the information is returned in full, a decision will be made, and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
In the meantime, the person concerned can apply to the Community Welfare Officer for the means-tested Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) if they are in need of financial assistance, while awaiting the outcome of their application.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
