Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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413. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a disability allowance payment will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61976/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm that the department received an application for disability allowance (DA) from the person concerned on 03 August 2022.

On 03 September 2022, this person was requested to supply supporting documentation required by the deciding officer in order to make a decision on eligibility.

Based on the evidence supplied in support of this person’s application, this application for DA was refused on failing to supply sufficient information to determine the person's means. A letter notifying the person concerned issued on 26 September 2022.

The requested documentation of 03 September 2022 was received by the Department on 10 October 2022 and a review of the decision of 26 September 2022, was carried out. As part of the review, the application was referred to a Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) on 27 October 2022 for a report on the person’s means and circumstances.The report was returned to the Department on 07 December 2022.

I can confirm that the person concerned has been awarded DA with effect from 03 August 2022. The first payment will be made by their chosen payment method on 14 December 2022.

Arrears of payment due from 03 August 2022 to 13 December 2022 will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments (if applicable).

I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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414. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide an update on her commitment to examine the possibility of extending the €500 disability payment to those in receipt of the Partial Capacity Benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62007/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Budget 2023 has been designed to assist people with cost-of-living increases through a mix of lump sum payments, increases to weekly payment rates and an expansion of the Fuel Allowance scheme.

The measures include the provision of a one-off €500 payment to recipients of the Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Invalidity Pension and the Carer's Support Grant.

Partial Capacity Benefit has been designed to allow persons on the scheme to continue to receive a percentage of their previous payment while in employment; there are no restrictions on the number of hours a person can work nor on their earnings. A person may be in receipt of a Partial Capacity Benefit payment while in employment for up to three years.

As persons in receipt of Partial Capacity Benefit are in employment without any restriction on earnings, they are not eligible for the €500 payment. However, Partial Capacity recipients received a double payment in October and are also eligible for the Christmas bonus double payment. In addition, from January 2023, the maximum rate of Partial Capacity Benefit will increase by €12 per week, with proportionate increases for people getting a reduced rate and for qualified adults.