Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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78. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to examine any policy or operational mechanisms to support a full-time nursing student such as a person (details supplied); his views on whether it is more likely this student will be able to support herself and her family over the long term if she is supported in college, rather than if she drops out to qualify for benefits. [61208/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Disability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66.  This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, means test and Habitual Residency conditions. 

I can confirm that the person concerned applied for disability allowance (DA) on 11 November 2022.  

The processing time for individual DA claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the information they provide in support of their claim.

An information request letter was sent to this lady on 18 November 2022 to supply supporting documentation, to determine her eligibility for DA.

On receipt of this information a decision will be made, and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome.

My department is committed to do everything we can to assist people with disabilities to further their education.  DA Recipients may be entitled to Back To Education Allowance (BTEA).  There are two options available to applicants.  They can remain on DA without applying for any grants.  Furthermore, they can remain on DA and apply for the full grant through SUSI. This will not affect their weekly DA payment.  Applications for BTEA must be made prior to commencing or within 30 days of the commencement of the course.

If the person concerned is awarded DA, an application for BTEA will issue to the person concerned for completion along with detailed information regarding her options for commencing a further education course.

On receipt of the completed application form along with confirmation of attendance at a course, a decision will be made on her entitlement to BTEA.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.