Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 June 2018
47. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department has had discussions with representatives of organisations representing persons with sight difficulties in relation to anomalies between the disability allowance and blind pension regarding the income disregard for each. [26580/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department has not recently had specific discussions with representatives of organisations representing persons with sight difficulties on the differences in conditionality attached to blind person’s pension (BPP) and disability allowance (DA). My Department consults regularly on disability related matters with people with disabilities through a number of fora including the Department’s Disability Consultative Committee, the ‘Community and Voluntary pillar’ (regular information sharing meetings held with representatives from a wide range of community and voluntary organisations/sectors), and the Disability Stakeholders Group. Members of these groups may raise issues relevant to their sectoral issues at these fora.
Blind Pension is a means-tested payment for blind and visually impaired people between the ages of 18 and 66 who are habitually resident in Ireland. The payment is made up of a personal rate and extra amounts for a qualified adult and any child dependants. To qualify for the BPP a person must supply an eye test from an ophthalmic surgeon to verify his/her visual impairment.
I should point out that BPP is a unique scheme in that it is the only social welfare payment which caters for a specific disability. The scheme was established under the Blind Pension Persons Act of 1920 and in effect predates not only the modern social protection system but also the foundation of the State.
A review of Disability and Illness Payments by the then Department of Social and Family Affairs in 2003 examined similarities and differences between the schemes and concluded that there should be one single-tested payment for people with disabilities regardless of the nature of the disability. I understand that at the time following discussions with representative groups, the proposal was not proceeded with. However, my Department would be open to revisiting this proposal with representative groups as a way of addressing any perceived anomalies.
Any comparison between the two schemes would have to take into account factors which favour the BPP. For instance, the awarding of BPP may also qualify a person for the blind welfare allowance paid by the HSE. There is also a difference in the income disregard for non-rehabilitative employment. For BPP there is an income disregard of €400 per annum or €7.50 per week. There is no such disregard for DA for non-rehabilitative employment.
Against this, the assessment of capital and spousal income are treated differently in the two schemes. Under the means test for DA, the first €50,000 of capital is disregarded while for BPP (as is the case with the great majority of welfare schemes) the first €20,000 of capital only is disregarded. Furthermore, In the case of BPP there are no disregards for spousal, civil partner or cohabitant earnings.
However for other factors, the treatment of conditions is similar. A person in receipt of BPP or DA can earn €120 per week in rehabilitative earnings before these earnings affect payment. If a person earns more than €120 per week, 50% of earnings between €120 and €350 are not taken into account in the BPP or DA means test. Earnings over €350 are assessed in full.
I should point out that a person making an application for BPP will generally be encouraged to ascertain first of all whether they would be better off availing of DA rather than BPP and they may then opt for the more beneficial payment.
