Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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252. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will indicate eligibility in respect of an invalidity pension-disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15374/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay-related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.

To qualify for IP claimants must, inter-alia, have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last complete contribution year before the date of their claim. Only PRSI classes A, E or H contributions are reckonable for IP purposes.

According to the Department’s records, it appears that the person concerned does not satisfy the PRSI contribution criteria for IP. However entitlement to IP can be definitively determined on receipt of a completed claim form.

Disability allowance (DA) 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 previously applied for DA in February 2013. The application was refused as the person’s means exceeded the statutory limit. If the person concerned thinks he now may be eligible for DA, it is open to him to make a new application and a decision on his eligibility will be made as soon as possible.