Darren O'Rourke
Question:463. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost if the maximum rate of disability allowance rate increased to €242.50 per week. [16283/24]
View answerTuesday, 16 April 2024
Questions (463)
Written answers
My Department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability. These include contributory payments based on PRSI contributions, such as Illness Benefit and Invalidity Pension, and non-contributory payments based on a means test, such as Disability Allowance.
Disability Allowance is a payment for people who are aged between 16 and 66 with an injury, disease or disability that has continued, or may be expected to continue, for at least one year and, as a result of this disability, the person is substantially restricted in undertaking work that would otherwise be suitable. The allowance is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residency requirement.
As of February 2024, there were 162,774 recipients of Disability Allowance. Based on those figures, if Disability Allowance was increased by €10.50 to €242.50 per week, the estimated additional cost per annum would be nearly €89 million.
Any proposals to increase the rate for Disability Allowance would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.