Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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660. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the proposals or timelines in relation to the removal of the means test for the disability allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39498/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Disability Allowance is my Department's primary disability related social assistance scheme. The payment is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residency requirement. The means test takes account of the income a person or couple has in terms of cash, property – other than the family home – and capital.

Applying a means-test ensures that the recipient has an income need and that scarce resources are targeted to those with the greatest need. This approach supports an economically sustainable and socially equitable allocation of scarce resources.

Disability Allowance has one of the highest capital disregards operated by the Department of Social Protection. A recipient can have up to €50,000 in savings and still receive the full rate of payment. This compares with €20,000 for most social welfare payments.

Over the last four budgets the Government has progressively improved payment rates and income disregards for disabled people. The weekly payment rates for Disability Allowance have increased by €41 in that time. The earnings disregard has increased by almost 38% since Budget 2021 from €120 to €165 currently. This enables those in receipt of Disability Allowance to earn more without having a negative impact on their means tested payment. It means that people can earn up to €165 per week and keep their payment in full and can earn up to €517.60 per week and keep a small portion of their payment.

The Programme for Government commits to reform the Disability Allowance Payment and remove anomalies in the current means test. There are also commitments in relation to the rate of payment and the development of an annual cost of disability support payment. These commitments will be progressed over the lifetime of the Government, having regard to the available resources.

My Department is currently reviewing means testing across all its social assistance schemes. The outcome of this review will be used to inform decisions regarding any further changes to means testing. All prospective changes to means testing arrangements will have to be considered in both an overall policy and budgetary context. However, there are no plans to remove the Disability Allowance means test.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.