Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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309. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) is accurately classified in their receipt of disability allowance. [10274/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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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, a means test and the habitual residency conditions.

Social Welfare Legislation provides that the means test takes account of the income and assets of the applicant and their spouse/partner, if applicable. Income and assets include income from employment, self-employment, occupational pensions, maintenance payments as well as property owned (other than the family home) and capital such as savings, shares and other investments.

The weekly rate of DA payment depends on the amount of weekly means assessed.

Following a review of this application, based on the information available to the Department, it was found that the person concerned had an increase in their means from their previous assessment and were assessed with weekly means of €259.05. A reduced rate of DA was awarded with effect from 8 May 2024. The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 24 April 2024 and was given the right to request a review and/or to appeal this decision.

The person concern appealed that decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) on 3 May 2024 and this was received on 12 May 2024. Having examined this case, an Appeals Officer upheld the Department’s decision, and the person concerned was notified of the outcome in writing on 18 February 2025.

An Appeal Officer’s decision is final and conclusive in the absence of any fresh facts or evidence.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.