James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 132: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Longford has received a reduced pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13657/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned has been awarded Disability Allowance at the weekly rate of €76.80 from the 18 March 2009 with effect from 1 April 2009. She was assessed with means derived from her Social Security payment from the United Kingdom and also from that of her spouses' Social Security payment from the United Kingdom. Disability allowance is a weekly allowance paid to people with a disability who are aged between 16 and 66 years. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to both a medical examination and a means test. The weekly rate of Disability Allowance payment depends on the amount of weekly means assessed.

The legislative provisions regarding Disability Allowance state that means will be assessed from all income which the claimant or claimant's spouse may reasonably expect to receive during the year following the date of their claim with certain exceptions. Income from UK Social Security payments is not included in these exceptions. Arrears of Disability Allowance for the period from the 18 March to the 31 March 2009, less any overlapping payments, will issue by cheque to the person concerned in due course.