Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 27 May 2003

Vol. 567 No. 5

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

443 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the threshold which applies to the means testing applicable for applicants for disability allowance will be significantly increased, in view of the impact the low threshold which currently applies has on applicants, and in particular whereby substantial outlays on medical expenses are not taken into account, as in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14419/03]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan)

Disability allowance is a weekly allowance paid to people with disability, the payment of which is subject to both medical suitability and a means test. The principal items counted as means include the value of savings or properties other than the home, maintenance paid to those who or are separated and cash income of the claimant's spouse or partner. The legislation governing the operation of the means test does not make provision for the exclusion of medical expenses in the calculation of household means. Provision of assistance for health care and medical expenses is seen primarily as the responsibility of the health boards.

The first €88.88 of the weekly earnings of a disability allowance recipient's spouse are disregarded and are therefore not assessed as means. Any earnings in excess of the €88.88 threshold result in the withdrawal of the disability allowance payment at the rate of €1 for every €2 of income.

The person referred to in the question was in receipt of disability allowance at a reduced weekly rate. Following a review, she was assessed with means derived from her spouse's earnings. As this assessment was higher than the statutory limit of €135.60 per week for disability allowance, her claim was disallowed. This decision was subsequently upheld on appeal. Any changes to the means test for disability allowance would have financial implications and would have to be considered in a budgetary context.