Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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253. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason that a person (details supplied) who is in receipt of the disability pension was not entitled to the bonus payment to help with the cost of living for those on long-term disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58535/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned is in receipt of Disablement Benefit and Incapacity Supplement.

Disablement benefit is one of the benefits payable under the occupational injuries benefit scheme, to an insured person who suffers a loss of physical or mental faculty as a result of an occupational accident or a prescribed occupational disease that was sustained on or after 1 May 1967. The person must have been in insurable (occupational injuries) employment at the time of the accident or when the disease was contracted.

Payments under the Occupational Injuries Benefit scheme did not qualify for the once-off Disability Support Grant. The grant was designed to recognise the additional cost pressures on people with disabilities and carers during the current energy crisis. The person concerned receives Disablement Benefit plus they receive a supplement on an ongoing basis in the form of an Incapacity Supplement.

The following measures were included in Budget 2023 for people in receipt of Disablement Benefit:

- Payment of once-off autumn cost of living double payment

- Payment of Christmas Bonus

- €12 increase to their weekly maximum personal rate from January 2023

- Disablement Benefit will be disregarded from the means test for Fuel Allowance from January 2023 to reduce the impact of the energy crisis on recipients of this payment.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.