Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 December 2016
236. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection to set out the number of persons in respect of whom domiciliary care allowance was being paid up to their 16th birthday, who, having reached this birthday, applied for disability allowance but were refused on the basis that they did not meet the requirement for each of the years 2013 and 2015, and 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38641/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraDomiciliary care allowance (DCA) is paid in respect of children who have a disability requiring care and attention substantially in excess of that needed by a child of the same age without the disability. The need for the additional care and attention must be likely to last for at least 12 months. DCA, which is not means-tested, is payable in respect of qualified children to age 16 years, after which they may apply for disability allowance (DA) in their own right.
However, the qualifying conditions for DA are very different to DCA. To qualify for a DA payment a person must: be substantially restricted in undertaking suitable employment; be aged between 16 and 65; satisfy a means test; and be habitually resident in the State. Therefore a child is not automatically entitled to DA because a DCA was in payment.
My department does not maintain statistics on how many people whose DCA ceases at age 16, apply for DA and go on to qualify for a DA payment.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
