Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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60. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45704/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I confirm that the Department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from the above named person on 8 November 2014. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

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 processing time for individual disability allowance claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the quantity and quality of the information they provide in support of their claim.

Any person who is awaiting a decision on their disability allowance application may apply for means-tested supplementary welfare allowance from their local community welfare officer.

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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61. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the steps she will take to ensure that an application for disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath is expedited; that the associated application for carer's allowance by the person's partner is likewise expedited, in view of the significant ongoing and permanent medical condition that the person applying for disability allowance has; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45707/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I confirm that the Department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from the first-named person concerned on 1 October 2014. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the second-named person concerned on the 28 October 2014. Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

These applications will be processed as soon as possible. In the meantime, jobseeker’s allowance is in payment in respect of both persons.