James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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146. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 842 of 22 January 2025, if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined further; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6772/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Disability Allowance (DA) is a means-tested payment for people with a specified disability whose income falls below certain limits and who are aged between 16 and are under 66.

The Department periodically reviews claims in payment to ensure that there is a continued entitlement. In this case the means of the person concerned were reviewed in line with DA eligibility. On 27th February 2024, the person concerned was notified in writing that that he no longer had an entitlement to DA from 6th March 2024, as his weekly means of €438.00 exceeded the statutory limit of €232.00 in his case.

Following a review of the means calculation in this case, there was no change to the original decision to disallow on means in excess grounds. The person concerned was notified on 9th November 2024 of this decision, the reason for it and his right of review and/or appeal.

As no new evidence relating to the assessment of the means of person concerned has been submitted, it has been determined that the decision of 4th November 2024 remains unchanged.

As he does not meet the criteria for receipt of DA, backdating of a claim can not be considered. Currently the person concerned is unlikely to qualify for other illness-based payments, either Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension, due to the PRSI contribution criteria for entitlement of same.

Should this person's circumstances change, he can contact the Disability Allowance section.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.