Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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387. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the consideration given to an individual’s outgoings when it comes to calculating eligibility for means-tested disability payments (details supplied). [67993/25]

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.

Social welfare legislation provides that, for means-tested social assistance schemes, all income and assets belonging to the claimant, and his or her spouse/partner where applicable, are assessable for means-testing purposes.

In a means test, the Department of Social Protection examines all sources of income. To receive Disability Allowance, household income must be below a certain amount. The purpose of the means test on social assistance schemes is to ensure that resources are directed to those with the greatest need for income supports by the State. The means test does not examine people's outgoings.

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. 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.

I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.