Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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1754. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a blind pension payment has been stopped for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41024/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Blind Pension is a means-tested payment for people aged 18 years to 66 years who are visually impaired and are habitually residing in the State. Therefore, all income, including pensions, capital, property (excluding a person’s own home) is assessable as means. If a person is married or cohabiting with another person, then each person will be assessed with half of the joint means. A person is obliged to declare all their income and notify the Department in writing of any change in their circumstances.

The person concerned was previously in receipt of a Blind Pension from 9th November 2012 up to 14th September 2023. The person failed to notify the Department that there was a change in circumstances. The person was cohabiting since 16th September 2022 and the weekly means assessed were in excess of the statutory limit to receive a Blind Pension payment. As a result, it was decided that the Blind Pension was overpaid from 16th September 2022 to 14th September 2023.

This decision was appealed to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office. The Appeals Officer partially allowed the appeal and reduced the period of overpayment from 16th September 2022 to 16th April 2023.

The person concerned applied for Disability Allowance on 11th October 2023 and was awarded from that date. Following a review of this decision, it was decided to backdate the date of award of Disability Allowance to 21st September 2022. Arrears of Disability Allowance were offset against the overpayment of Blind Pension and, therefore, there was no debt to be recouped. It is not possible to receive Disability Allowance and Blind Pension concurrently.