Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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2083. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a person in receipt of a blind pension will automatically lose access to all or part of that pension if they marry or enter into a civil partnership; and if so, her plans to revise this policy. [28538/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Blind pension is a means-tested payment for blind and visually impaired people between the ages of 18 and 66 who are habitually resident in Ireland. In the case of a married couple or a civil partnership, a means test will take into account any income belonging to the individual and the income of their spouse or partner. As a general rule, the joint means is then divided by two to determine the individual means of the claimant.

The following items are not counted as means for blind pension:-

- Claimants own home;

- Any other payment made by this Department;

- The value of the first €20,000 of savings (for a single person) or first €40,000 (for a couple);

- Money received from a recognised charitable organisation (excluding public or local authority);

- The maintenance part of a student grant from SUSI paid to claimant, a qualified adult or child dependent(s) for certain courses;

- Income up to a certain limit from rehabilitative employment;

- Income from rehabilitative training;

- Mobility Allowance from the Department of Health; and

- Blind Welfare Allowance paid by the HSE.

It does not follow, therefore, that a person in receipt of blind pension is automatically disqualified if they marry or enter into a civil partnership. In the light of their changed circumstances, however, a full assessment of the relevant joint means will be required to determine continuing eligibility for this pension.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.