Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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457. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will receive confirmation on their application for the invalidity pension which was sent to her Department before July 2017; if her attention has been drawn to the long delays there is when processing records between the disability allowance and invalidity pension sections; the steps she has taken to resolve this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47680/17]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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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 have, inter alia, 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.

A claimant must be regarded as permanently incapable of work, which is defined as:

incapacity for work of such a nature that the likelihood is that the claimant will be incapable of work for life

OR

an incapacity which has existed for 12 months prior to the date of claim, and where the Deciding Officer or an Appeals Officer is satisfied that the claimant is likely to be unable to work for at least a further 12 months

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.

In order to determine a person’s eligibility for IP it must be established that they meet both the PRSI contributions and the medical condition for receipt of payment. Where a person’s contribution record is incomplete and they have been in receipt of another social welfare payment e.g. DA, it is necessary to investigate their entitlement to credited contributions. In addition to this, up to date medical evidence may be required in order to establish medical eligibility for IP. The applicant may be required to have a medical form completed by their GP or to attend for an in-person medical assessment. This process can take time depending on the circumstances of each case.

The gentleman concerned has been in receipt of disability allowance (DA) at the maximum personal rate from 30 July 2014. An application for IP was received from the gentleman in question on 13 July 2017. His DA payment, along with their fuel allowance and living alone allowance has continued while their eligibility for IP was being examined.

Following an examination of his contribution record, his record has been updated with DA credits and it has now been established that he satisfies the contribution conditions for IP. As it has also been determined that he satisfies the medical criteria, his claim for IP has been awarded with effect from 13 July 2017 and the first payment will issue to his nominated bank account on 23 November 2017. Any arrears due from 13 July 2017 to 22 November 2017 (less any overlapping social welfare payment and/or outstanding overpayment) will issue in due course. The gentleman in question was notified of this decision on 13 November 2017.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.