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

My Department provides a range of income supports for those unable to work due to illness or disability, the largest of which is the Disability Allowance scheme.  As at the end of April there were in excess of 155,600 people in receipt of this payment.  

Following Budget 2022, the Disability Allowance personal weekly rate increased, in January, to €208 per week.  In addition, increases are applied where there is a qualified adult (€138 per week) or where there are qualified children (€48/€40 per week depending on the age of the child).  Persons in receipt of Disability Allowance are also entitled to a Free Travel Scheme pass and may be entitled to additional secondary benefits such as the Household Benefits Package.

Through the Budget process, a number of measures were introduced to support people with disabilities and carers, as follows:

1. General increase to the weekly rates of payment for working age schemes / recipients (under66 years of age) by €5 per week, with proportionate increases for qualified adults and those on reduced rates;

2. Increase to the income disregard for Carer's Allowance from €332.50 to €350 for a single person and from €665 to €750 for a couple;

3. Increase to the capital disregard for Carer's Allowance from €20,000 to €50,000;

4. Extension to period during which Domiciliary Care Allowance can be paid for children in hospital from three months to six months (including payment of Carer's Allowance for this period);

5. Increase to the upper earnings disregard limit for both the Disability Allowance and the Blind Pension from €350 to €375 per week;

6. Increase to the rates of payment available under the Wage Subsidy Scheme which providesfinancial incentives for private sector employers to offer employment to jobseekers with disabilities, (bringing the strand one rate equivalent to 60% of the National Minimum Wage);

7. Three grants, currently available through Intreo centres, are also to be made available through Employability contractors in 2022;

8. Increase to the general weekly means disregard for Disability Allowance to €7.60 (was €2.50 per week);

9. Extension to the eligibility for the disregard of PhD scholarship income, in the means test, to recipients of Blind Pension;

10. Introduction of a grant of up to €500 in any calendar year towards the purchase ofwigs/hairpieces/hair replacement systems in cases of hair loss due to illness or treatment of an illness;

11. Increase to the Fuel Allowance of €5 to €33 per week.  The weekly means threshold was also increased by €20 from €100 to €120;

12. Increase to the Living Alone Allowance of €3, from €19 to €22 per week.

My Department also provides the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for those whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants.  This scheme includes Additional Needs Payments and SWA Supplements (heat, travel and dietary supplements).  These means tested payments may be made to help meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income. 

In addition to the above, my Department commissioned Indecon International Research Economists to carry out research into the cost of disability in Ireland and the Government published their report in December.  Additional costs of disability identified run across a number of areas of expenditure including housing; equipment, aids and appliances; mobility, transport and communications; medicines; care and assistance services and additional living expenses.  The Government has referred the report to the National Disability Inclusion Strategy Steering Group, which is chaired by the Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Deputy Rabbitte.  All Departments have been asked to consider actions that are currently being implemented and any proposed new actions that they will be undertaking in the context of the findings of the Report.

My Department regularly reviews its supports and payments schemes to ensure that they continue to meet their objectives, while any proposed changes have to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.