Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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859. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) can revert to their previous disability allowance payment to secure entitlement to the living alone allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63610/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned is currently in receipt of Widows Contributory Pension (WCP) and has not been in receipt of Disability Allowance since 19 December 2017.

An Application for Living Alone Allowance (LAA) was received by the WCP Section on the 30 September 2022.  Based on the information provided to the Department, the person does not qualify for the allowance as they are under the age of 66 and LAA is not payable on WCP to persons under the age of 66.  The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 22 October 2022.

Disability allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged over 16 and under 66.  The disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residency test.

The person concerned would need to reapply for DA and a completed application form for DA must be submitted to the Department in order to have eligibility checked and a formal decision made on entitlement for DA and the Living Alone Allowance.

An application form has been posted to the person concerned.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.