Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1172. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will review a case (details supplied); the reason the person did not qualify for disability allowance; if she will provide the definition of a disability for this person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46737/17]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I confirm that my department received an application for Disability Allowance (DA) from this lady on the 26 January 2015. The DA application, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds and this lady was notified in writing of this decision on 30 March 2015. She was also notified on that date of her right to seek a review of this decision or appeal directly to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. No request for an appeal or review was ever received. It is open for this lady to reapply for DA.

Disability allowance is a weekly allowance paid to people with a Disability who are aged 16 or over and under age 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year. Each application for disability allowance is assessed on its own merits.

When conducting an assessment, the medical assessor does not dispute the existence of the certified cause of incapacity but rather s/he assesses the degree to which the loss of function in work-related activities, resulting from disease/injury or congenital deformity, affects the person’s ability to perform either their own job or alternative types of work.

Part 10 of the disability allowance application form (DA1) is completed by an applicant’s general practitioner prior to its submittal to the Department for consideration. An applicant for disability allowance is free to include any documentary evidence (medical or otherwise) with their application.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.