Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 335: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on whether there is a need to allow mortgage payments as a charge or allowance for means test purposes when claiming for the disability allowance; his further views on whether a disability in itself can be a major crisis in a family; if he will consider making the necessary changes in budget 2006 so that mortgage charges can be accepted as a legitimate cost when disability allowance is being decided upon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34825/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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In assessing means for social assistance purposes, including disability allowance, account is taken of any cash income the person or his or her spouse may have, together with the value of capital and property, except the home. Outgoings, such as mortgage payments on the family home, are not taken into account in determining entitlement to disability allowance and other weekly income maintenance payments.

The person concerned made a claim for disability allowance in July 2005. While she satisfied the medical conditions for entitlement to disability allowance, her weekly means were determined by a deciding office of my Department to be in excess of the statutory limit for entitlement to that scheme. These means were derived from her husband's earnings and the appropriate deductions for income tax, PRSI, superannuation, trade union and health insurance subscriptions as well the spouse's income disregard of €88.88 per week were deducted from gross earnings before her means were calculated.

Any changes to the current means testing provisions for disability allowance and other schemes would fall to be considered in a budgetary context.