Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 May 2021
177. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will end the practice of including the income of partners or spouses in the means testing of recipients or applicants for the blind pension and disability allowance and to address the impact of the current practice on diminishing the independence of persons with disabilities. [28519/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraSocial welfare legislation provides that, for social assistance schemes, all income and capital (such as savings, investments and property other than the family home) belonging to the claimant and his or her spouse/partner, where applicable, are assessable for means assessment purposes.
The means test plays a critical role in determining whether an income need arises as a consequence of a particular contingency – such as disability, unemployment or caring. This ensures that the recipient has a verifiable income need and that resources are targeted to those who need them most.
If a claimant is married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting, the Department will assess the couple's means when carrying out a means test for a social assistance payment. This is the case even if only one of the couple is actually claiming a payment. This is not exclusive to Disability Allowance or the Blind Pension and applies to all of the Department's social assistance schemes.
Any changes to the means test for Disability Allowance or the Blind Pension would need to be considered in an overall budgetary and policy context.
