Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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427. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a single person who is in receipt of the disability allowance loses their right to the allowance if they get married; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57441/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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A person's marital status does not affect their entitlement to Disability Allowance.

Disability Allowance is a means tested social assistance scheme, which is also subject to a medical assessment and habitual residency requirement.

Eligibility for the scheme includes the requirement that the disability must be expected to last for at least one year, and substantially restrict a person’s ability to work.

Disability Allowance is a payment to the individual. Where a couple are married/partners, if both are eligible, both will receive a Disability Allowance payment.

Persons in receipt of Disability Allowance may be entitled to an increase for a qualified adult and qualified children. They are also entitled to a Free Travel Scheme pass and may be entitled to additional secondary benefits such as the Household Benefits Package.

Where a person makes an application for Disability Allowance, the means assessment includes:

- Income, from employment or self-employment, (and spouse/partner, if applicable), income from a social security pension from another country and maintenance payments

- Capital, all monies held in financial institutions or otherwise, the market value of shares, as well as houses and premises owned by a claimant.

- The family home is never assessed as part of the means test, regardless of who is the legal owner.

A number of increases to the above were announced as part of Budget 2023 as follows:

- A €12 increase to the weekly rate of Disability Allowance increasing it from €208 to €220 per week from January 2023.

- Proportionate increases will also apply for people getting a reduced rate and to the qualified adult rates.

- The weekly rate for a qualified child will also increase to:

- €42 for children under 12 years of age

- €50 for children aged 12 years and over