Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

In determining entitlement to disability allowance, the social welfare code provides that the first €50,000 of capital is disregarded in the means assessment. Thereafter, weekly means are assessed at €1 per week for each €1,000 of capital between €50,000 and €60,000; at €2 per week for each €1,000 of capital between €60,000 and €70,000 and at €4 per week for each €1,000 of capital above €70,000. These arrangements are more generous than those which apply to other social assistance schemes in recognition of the fact that persons in receipt of disability allowance may not have had the opportunity to accumulate savings or other income through participation in employment and this disability may hamper a person's ability to live independently.

The Deputy will be aware that funds which are held for the benefit of wards of court are private funds under the control of the Courts Service. These funds, which amounted to approximately €1.137 billion at 30 September 2010, are managed in a fiduciary capacity by the Courts Service on behalf of more than 18,000 beneficiaries, of whom some 2,300 are wards of court. It is my understanding that while court funds were impacted by the turbulence on world financial markets, particularly in 2008, very few actual losses were incurred in individual cases and that all funds have fully recovered to pre-financial crisis levels.

Where the position of an individual has been impacted upon, it is open to that person, or his or her representatives, to apply for disability allowance or to have the level of payment reviewed in cases where he or she is already in receipt of the allowance.

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