Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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189. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a disability benefit (details supplied), now under review, will be restored immediately; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38291/24]

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.

The person concerned was awarded Disability 10 February 2016. The Department periodically carries out reviews to ensure continuing eligibility to entitlements.

As part of a review process an information request issued to the person concerned on 09 April 2024, to assess his current means and living arrangements. I can confirm the person concerned returned the requested information on 24 April 2024.

Following this review, it was determined that the person concerned had an increase in their weekly means, derived from their employment. Their rate of DA was adjusted accordingly and they were advised of this decision on 30 May 2024.

A medical review of the person concerned was initiated on 10/07/2024 and a Form MR99 was sent out for completion. The completed form and additional medical evidence is currently with the Medical Assessors for examination and the customer will be informed, in writing, of the outcome, in due course. Their DA has remained in payment, without disruption, throughout these reviews.

It is open to the person concerned to request a review of their means, if there has been a change in their circumstances and to provide any relevant information in order to assist with the review process.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.