Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 January 2024
278. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of adults in receipt of disability payments from her Department as of 31 December 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3540/24]
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 .
Blind Pension (BP) is a means tested payment paid to blind people and certain people with low vision, aged 18 and up to the age of 66 who are habitually resident in the State.
Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
Illness Benefit (IB) is the primary short term income support provided by my Department to those who are unable to work due to illness of any type and who are covered by social insurance.
The number of persons in receipt of DA, BP, IP and IB at the end of December 2023 are set out in the table below:
|
Scheme |
Number of Recipients at end of December 2023 |
|
DA |
162,351 |
|
BP |
988 |
|
IP |
56,650 |
|
IB |
51,552 |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
