Written answers

Wednesday, 13 February 2013

Department of Social Protection

Disability Allowance Payments

Photo of Eamonn MaloneyEamonn Maloney (Dublin South West, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the calculation process which is used and the steps taken to determine the amount of weekly diet supplement for persons on gluten free diets who are in receipt of disability allowance and invalidity pension; if she will provide examples for both categories; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7617/13]

Photo of Eamonn MaloneyEamonn Maloney (Dublin South West, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection the calculation process which is used and the steps taken, to determine the amount of weekly diet supplement for persons on gluten free diets who are in receipt of disability allowance and invalidity pension including examples for both categories; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7700/13]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 134 together.

Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, a diet supplement may be paid to a person who is receiving a social welfare or health service executive payment where a special diet is prescribed as a result of a specified medical condition and they satisfy a means test.

The amount of diet supplement payable in individual cases is calculated by assessing one-third (single people) or one-sixth (couples joint weekly means) of the applicant's weekly income, excluding any amounts of benefit or assistance payable in respect of any child dependants against the cost of the relevant diet. The current costing applied to a gluten free diet is €68.43 per week for adults and €6.50 per week for children.

The last study into the cost of specialised diets was carried out in 2007. Accordingly when diet supplement payments for qualifying individuals are being calculated the social welfare rates for 2007 are used.

For example, a single person under age 65 on maximum rate invalidity benefit would receive a weekly payment of €4.66. This is calculated using the invalidity benefit rate of 2007 (€191.30) divided by three (€63.77) which is subtracted from the cost of the gluten free diet (€68.43).

A single person on maximum rate of disability allowance would receive €6.50 per week. This is calculated using the disability allowance rate of 2007 (€185.80) divided by three (€61.93) which is subtracted from the cost of the gluten free diet (€68.43).

The Department is currently undertaking a review of the diet supplement scheme.

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