Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 January 2024
388. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delayed decision on a disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied).; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4237/24]
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.
My Department received correspondence from the person concerned on 21 June 2023 notifying a change of circumstances and requesting a review of their entitlement to DA. This person's previous means review had been carried out a few weeks earlier, on 24 May 2023. At that time, they were assessed with weekly means of €181.62, resulting in a DA payment rate of €45.00.
Further information was requested on 19 September 2023 and, following a review of the information supplied, a further information request was issued by the DA section in December 2023.
Her DA remained in payment throughout this period and the person concerned was also in receipt of a top up from Supplementary Welfare Allowance from 21 June 2023.
Following a review, based on the information available to the Department, it was found that the person's means had decreased with effect from 14 June 2023.
A letter notifying the person of this decision issued on 25 January 2024. The person concerned was notified of their right to request a review of this decision or to appeal it to the SWAO.
Arrears of payment, if due, will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments from other Social Welfare schemes, if applicable.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
