Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
874. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people on disability allowance and invalidity pension who to date in 2023 have lost their entitlement to these payments entirely or have had them reduced following a change in circumstance where they now reside with a partner initiating a review of their income, in tabular form. [56668/23]
View answerInvalidity Pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the contribution conditions. As IP is a contribution-based payment, customers will not lose their entitlement to the basic IP rate due to a change in circumstances where they now reside with a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant. Customers may lose their entitlement to additional increases such as Living Alone Increase, Fuel Allowance or Telephone Support Allowance payable with IP if their living arrangements change, but their personal rate of IP might not be affected. There were no IP customers who lost their basic rate IP in 2023 due to a change in their living arrangements.
Disability allowance (DA) is a means tested payment for people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. The applicant must be suffering from an injury, disease, congenital deformity or physical or mental illness or defect, which has lasted for one year or is expected to last for one year and as a result of which they are substantially restricted in undertaking work which would otherwise be suitable having regard to the person’s age, experience and qualifications. The person must also satisfy a means test and be habitually resident in the State.
Statistics are not available on DA recipients categorised by a termination or reduction in payments due to a change in circumstances arising from cohabitation or marriage. Therefore, my Department is in not in a position to supply the information in the manner sought.
The overall number of individuals impacted by terminations or reductions in payments for 2023 are as follows:
|
Scheme |
Terminations |
Reductions |
|
Disability Allowance |
1144 |
1399 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
68 |
14 |
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
