James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 272: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding an application for a disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16323/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, 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 a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residency test.

The person concerned applied for Disability Allowance on 30 December 2009. His claim was assessed by a Medical Assessor who deemed that he was not medically suitable for Disability Allowance. His means were investigated by a Social Welfare Inspector and he failed to furnish the information requested by the Inspector in order to determine his means. The person's claim was refused by a Deciding Officer on 19 April 2010 on the grounds that he was not medically suitable and that he had failed to show his means did not exceed the statutory limit for receipt of Disability Allowance. A letter issued to the person on 19 April 2010 advising him of this decision and of his right of appeal, within 21 days, to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.