Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 February 2024
244. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of eligibility for disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6030/24]
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.
I confirm that my Department received an application for DA from the person concerned on 12 October 2023. As their initial application did not contain all the information required for a decision, an information request letter was sent to the person concerned on 23 October 2023 to supply this supporting documentation. The information request allows the person 21 days to provide the required information in order to determine their eligibility for DA. I can confirm that, to date, the requested information has not been received.
As the person concerned failed to supply the requested information, their means could not be determined.
Based on the evidence supplied with the person’s application, her DA was disallowed on the grounds that the medical qualifying condition was not satisfied and failure to provide sufficient information in order to determined that their weekly means do not exceed the statutory maximum allowed under the Disability Allowance scheme.
The person concerned was notified of the decision in writing via correspondence dated 31 January 2024 and advised of their entitlement to request a review or to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). They were also notified of the outstanding documents required to determine means.
I can confirm that no request for a review or an appeal has been received to date.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
