John Clendennen (Offaly, Fine Gael)
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1485. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the financial assistance available for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21229/25]

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, means test and Habitual Residency conditions.

I confirm that my Department received an application for DA from the person concerned on 20 February 2025. Based on the evidence supplied in support of this application, the application was disallowed on the grounds that the weekly means of €1,101.57 exceeded the Statutory limit of €406.00. The means is derived from the self employment of the spouse of the person concerned.

The person concerned was notified of the decision on 08 April 2025, and they were given the right to a review or an appeal.

Social Welfare Legislation provides that the means test takes account of the income and assets of the person (and spouse/partner if applicable) applying to the relevant scheme. 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.

To date, no request for a review or an appeal has been received by the person concerned.

It is open to the person concerned to make an application for Supplementary Welfare Allowance pending the outcome of a review/appeal of their Disability Allowance. In the meantime, if a person has urgent financial needs they can contact the local Community Welfare Officer and make an application for an Additional Needs Payment.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.