Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 September 2023
200. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection what measures she can implement to end the discrimination against many disabled people in receipt of disability allowance, a benefit paid to disabled people directly, who are at risk of losing the benefit should they marry because the benefit is means tested. [41936/23]
View answerDisability Allowance is a means-tested social assistance scheme, which is also subject to a medical assessment and habitual residency requirement. It is the nature of means-tested schemes that, above a certain level of means, a person is not entitled to any payment, as their means are deemed to be sufficient to provide for their needs.
All income and capital, such as savings, investments and property other than the family home, where applicable, are assessable for means calculation purposes.
If a claimant is married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting, the means of the couple will be assessed. This is the case even if only one of the couple is claiming a payment.
This approach reflects the policy of ensuring that those with the least amount of income or capital receive the maximum available support from the State, while those with larger amounts of income, savings or property contribute, partially or fully, towards meeting their needs. Applying a means assessment for schemes such as Disability Allowance ensures that State supports are directed to those most in need of them.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
