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 confirm that my department received an application for DA from the person concerned on 22 December 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 the person provides in support of their claim.

A letter, requesting further information not included with her original application, was sent to the person concerned on 11 January 2023, to enable a Deciding Officer to consider her eligibility for DA.  The person concerned notified the Department on 7 March 2023 that the requested information was furnished by her on 20  January 2023.  However, she informed the Department they would resend the requested information.

I can confirm that DA section received the requested information on 8 March 2023.  A further information request letter was sent to the person concerned on 14 March 2023 to supply additional supporting documentation and allowed 21 days for the return of the information.  I can confirm that the requested information was received by DA section on 21 March 2023. 

Based on the evidence supplied in support of this person’s application, her application for DA was disallowed on the grounds that the medical qualifying condition was not satisfied.  The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 27 March 2023, and they were given the right to a review or an appeal.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.