Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 160: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved and awarded disability allowance, following their medical examination. [15831/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Disability Allowance is a weekly Allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged over 16 and under 66. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to both medical assessment and a means test. The person concerned made an application for Disability Allowance on 12th September, 2007. Following as assessment by a Social Welfare Inspector to determine the person's means, and an assessment by a Medical Assessor on the 10th April, the person was deemed suitable for Disability Allowance. Weekly means were assessed as €41.36 and the person concerned qualifies for Disability Allowance at the weekly rate of €337.10.

This person is currently receiving Job Seekers Allowance (Farm Assist) at a rate of €349.10 which is €12.00 more per week than the rate of Disability Allowance. A department official wrote to the person concerned on 16 April 2008 advising him that it would not be to his financial advantage to transfer to Disability Allowance. However, if he did opt for Disability Allowance and satisfied the qualifying conditions, he may qualify for certain Free Schemes. He would automatically be entitled to a Free Travel Pass. The person concerned has now indicated that he wishes to proceed with his application for disability allowance and my Department is making the necessary arrangements to put his disability allowance claim into payment.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 161: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo who was recently assessed for the widow's non-contributory pension will be assessed for farm assist. [15832/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has no record of a current application for farm assist from the person concerned. However, it is open to the person concerned to apply for farm assist and a form for this purpose has been issued to her. The person concerned has been awarded widow's non-contributory pension at the weekly rate of €170.30 from 1 February 2008. Her first payment, including arrears, will issue on 25 April 2008.