Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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108. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of applications for social protection payments by persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44972/15]

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.

The department received a claim for IP for the person concerned on the 16 September 2015. The person concerned was refused IP on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. He was notified on the 11 December 2015 of this decision, the reasons for it and of his right of review and appeal.

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 department received a claim for DA for the person concerned on the 2 October 2015. The person concerned was refused DA on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. He was notified on the 12 November 2015 of this decision, the reasons for it and of his right of review and appeal. An appeal was lodged with the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) on the 7 December 2015. The SWAO will be in touch with the person in question in due course in relation to the progress of their appeal.

The person in question is currently in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance and his wife is in receipt of IP in her own right. His wife may apply to have him included as a qualified adult on her IP claim or the person concerned may apply for illness benefit (IB) which is a short-term payment for persons who are incapable of work and who satisfy the PRSI conditions.