Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 May 2022
305. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that disabled artists will not be penalised and will be able to retain their disability payments if they are successful in qualifying for the basic income for artists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21874/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a range of income supports for people unable to work due to illness or disability. The largest disability related social assistance scheme is the Disability Allowance.
Disability Allowance is a means-tested payment for people with a specified disability that must be expected to last for at least one year, substantially restricting a person’s ability to undertake work which would otherwise be suitable for persons of similar age, experience, and qualification. The person must be aged between 16 and 66 and be habitually resident in the State. At the end of March 2022, in excess of 155,000 persons were in receipt of this payment.
Disability Allowance is structured to support recipients to avail of opportunities to pursue employment, be that self-employment or insurable employment. When an individual commences employment, they can avail of an income disregard of €140 per week. In addition, 50% of earnings, between €140 and €350, are also disregarded, i.e. 50% of earnings in this band are disregarded for the purpose of the means test. Earnings above €350 per week are assessed in full.
Resulting from Budget measures, the following increases will apply from June:
1. An increase in the earnings threshold above which means is fully assessed - by €25 per week, from €350 to €375 per week.
2. An increase in the general weekly means disregard entry point for Disability Allowance from €2.50 to €7.60. Currently the first €2.50 of weekly means is disregarded for Disability Allowance. The effect of this measure will be to increase the weekly rate of payment by up to €5.10 per week for Disability Allowance recipients who have means.
Income from the Basic Income for the Arts Pilot Scheme will be treated as income from self-employment, and as a result the disregards above will apply. A new web page has been created on Gov.ie which details the ‘Interaction of the Basic Income for the Arts Pilot Scheme with DSP payments’. This page will be updated as required.
My Department regularly reviews its supports and payments schemes to ensure that they continue to meet their objectives, while any proposed changes must be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.
