Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

602. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of recipients of the domiciliary care allowance in 2021; the number that transitioned to the disability allowance once they were over 16 years of age; the number that are in receipt of the domiciliary care allowance that had their disability allowance applications refused in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14232/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly payment in respect of a child with a severe disability. To qualify, the child must have a severe disability, and they must require ongoing care and attention substantially over and above that usually needed of a child of the same age. DCA is payable until the child turns 16.  

When the child turns 16, they may apply in their own right for Disability Allowance (DA). DA is a weekly payment payable to persons who have a disability, illness, or injury that is expected to last for more than one year, who are substantially restricted from doing work that would otherwise be suitable for a person of their age, experience, and qualifications.  Persons must additionally be aged between 16 and 66 years, and satisfy a means test. The qualifying criteria for DA are not the same as the qualifying criteria for DCA. The DA means test assesses the income of the child; the means of the person receiving DCA in respect of the child are not taken into account. The data requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below. The status refers to the current status of the DA claim.

At the end of 2021 there were 51,373 people in respect of whom domiciliary care allowance was paid, and the number who applied for Disability Allowance (DA), the number awarded and the number rejected for a DA payment is provided below.