Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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241. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a long-term illness payment or equivalent status will be awarded in the case of a person (details supplied) who suffers from multiple sclerosis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35245/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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To qualify for a Disability Allowance (DA) payment a person must: be substantially restricted in undertaking suitable employment; be aged between 16 and 66; satisfy a means test; and be habitually resident in the State.

The person concerned submitted an application for DA on 21 June 2019.

The application, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on 19 September 2019, as the client failed to supply information requested on 26 August 2019 regarding completion of the Habitual Residence Form.

The person in question has never requested a review of the decision by a deciding officer (DO) or requested an appeal of the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO).

It is, of course, open to the person in question to make a new application for DA and her eligibility will be examined afresh, taking all available evidence into account. An application form has been issued to her by Post if she wishes to reapply.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.