Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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1427. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) and provide support for this person to access their full entitlements to social welfare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19584/25]

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 habitual residency conditions.

I confirm that the Department received an application for DA from the person concerned on 15 January 2025. Based on the evidence supplied, the application was disallowed on the ground that they failed to provide sufficient information to enable a Deciding Officer to determine their means.

The person was notified in writing of this decision on 12 February 2025 and was given the right to request a review of this decision and/or appeal it to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO).

The person supplied further information and a review of the original decision was carried out on 25 March 2025 and they were awarded DA with effect from 26 February 2025 at a reduced rate due to means derived from their spouse’s employment.

As part of the initial application for DA, the person concerned also applied for Fuel Allowance. A Deciding Officer assessed the entitlement to Fuel Allowance and, based on the information supplied, it was decided that the person did not have an entitlement to the Fuel Allowance as their household consisted of persons who were not in a qualifying category.

The person was also notified of this decision in writing on 25 March 2025. They were also informed that if their circumstances changed, they should make a new application for the Fuel Allowance.

Any arrears due have issued to the person concerned.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.