Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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116. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will confirm the number of people who benefitted from the social protection lump sum payments; if further cost-of-living measures will be considered going forward; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24393/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Since Spring 2022, my Department has administered a wide range of lump sum cost of living supports targeted at people and families to help them through this difficult period. These were paid out across 2022 - in March, May, October through December, and in April 2023, with further supports to be paid in the coming months.

The full list of cost of living lump sum supports provided by my Department, along with the cost and number of recipients is below. Further supports, including energy credits for example, were provided from other Government Departments' Votes.

* Note-Upcoming payment.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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117. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications for disability payments and invalidity pension refused for whatever reason in the past twelve months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24623/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers, ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible.

Disability allowance (DA) is a means tested payment for people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. The applicant must be suffering from an injury, disease, congenital deformity or physical or mental illness or defect, which has lasted for one year or is expected to last for one year and as a result of which they are substantially restricted in undertaking work which would otherwise be suitable having regard to the person’s age, experience and qualifications. The person must also satisfy a means test and be habitually resident in the State.

Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. Eligibility for IP is based on a person satisfying both the contribution and medical eligibly criteria. A claimant must be regarded as permanently incapable of work, which is defined as incapacity for work of such a nature that the likelihood is that they will be incapable of work for life or have an incapacity which has existed for 12 months prior to the date of claim, and where the deciding officer or an appeals officer is satisfied that they are likely to be unable to work for one year from the date of claim.

The number of DA and IP applications registered and disallowed from May 2022 to April 2023 are set out in the table below.

The majority of DA and IP claim disallowances are based on the medical conditions for each scheme not being satisfied. Many of these applications are from people whose short-term illness benefits have expired and who have illnesses or injuries which are not considered to be severe enough or not likely to long-term, in keeping with the scheme eligibility.

As DA is a means tested payment, applications can be disallowed when a means assessment determines that an applicant’s means exceed the statutory maximum allowed under the scheme. In addition, applications can be disallowed when they do not satisfy the conditions of being habitually resident in the State.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.