Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 February 2024
267. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a social welfare payment will be made in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7316/24]
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 an application for DA from the person concerned on 30 November 2023. The processing time for individual DA claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the information they provide in support of their claim.
As their initial application did not contain all the information required to make a decision on entitlement, an information request letter was sent to the person concerned on 11 December 2023 to supply this supporting documentation.
I confirm that the Deputy sent in documentation on behalf of the person concerned on 20 December 2023. As the person concerned did not supply all the required information that was requested on 11 December 2023, it was necessary for the Deciding Officer to send a further information request on 20 December 2023, requesting the outstanding information.
I can confirm some documentation was received from the person concerned on 29 December 2023. However, a further request for information was sent to the person concerned on 10 January 2024 to provide all the information requested in correspondence issued on 20 December 2023, in order to determine their eligibility for DA.
The requested information of 20 December 2023 is in relation to bank accounts held by the person. I can confirm that documentation was received from the person concerned on 31 January 2024.
A further request for information was sent to the person concerned on 12 February 2024 to provide all the information requested in correspondence issued on 20 December 2023, in order to determine their eligibility for DA.
The information request letter allows the person concerned 21 days to provide the required information. On receipt of all requested information, a decision can be made, and they will be notified directly of the outcome.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
