Disability Allowance

Disability Allowance

Disability Allowance is a weekly allowance paid to people with a disability by the Department of Social Protection (DSP) in Ireland. The payment is made to people who are unfit for / cannot work and do not qualify for any other social welfare payment (Jobseeker's Allowance / Illness Benefit / Invalidity Pension).

- Qualification

To qualify for Disability Allowance (DA) you must:

• Have an injury, disease or physical or mental disability that has continued, or may be expected to continue, for at least one year;
• As a result of this disability you must be substantially restricted in undertaking work that would otherwise be suitable for a person of your age, experience and qualifications;
• Be aged between 16 and 66;
• Satisfy a means test
• Satisfy the Habitual Residence Condition

- Age

You can qualify for the payment from 16 years of age, and if you are in education when you turn 16, you can continue to attend school while receiving this allowance.

Children in receipt of Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) who turn 16 can apply for Disability Allowance. Three months before a child’s birthday, the department will write to remind you that Domiciliary Care Allowance will shortly stop and tell you about the available options - including Disability Allowance.

- Medical Assessment - Application

As part of an application for a Disability Allowance payment, your doctor will need to complete the medical report section of the Disability Allowance application form - DA 1.

This medical report by your doctor is reviewed by the DSP’s medical assessors to decide if you meet the qualifying medical requirements that you:

• Have an injury, disease, or physical or mental disability that has continued for at least one year, or is expected to continue for at least one year, and
• Are substantially restricted from doing work because of your disability, that would be suitable for a person of your age, experience and qualifications.

It is important that you ensure that your doctor has completed this medical assessment to fully reflect the extent, impact and consequences of your underlying medical condition.

- Duration / Time Limit

There is no cap or limit on the amount of time that you can receive a Disability Allowance payment. You can continue to receive a Disability Allowance payment if you satisfy the medical qualification conditions, Habitual Residence Condition (HRC), the means test and that you are aged 16 or over and under 66.

- Means Test - Capital Disregard

The capital disregard for Disability Allowance is €50,000. This means that you can have up to €50,000 in the bank, post office, building society etc. and it will not affect your underlying qualification for a Disability Allowance. If you have more than €50,000, a graduated scale is used to decide by how much the 'additional' monies over €50,000 will affect a Disability Allowance payment.

- Spouse/Civil Partner/Cohabitant Working

If your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant works, is engaged in self-employment or has an income from a course of training or education, their income could affect your Disability Allowance payment – even if you are not claiming for them as a Qualified Adult on your Disability Allowance payment.

- Maintenance

Child maintenance payments are excluded from the means test for all social welfare payments, including Disability Allowance. Maintenance that is not child maintenance, received while on Disability Allowance, may be allowed up to €95.23 against rent or mortgage costs, with half the remaining amount assessed as means on a euro-for-euro basis. Proof of rent/mortgage payments is required.

- Medical Assessment - during claim

A Disability Allowance claim can be subject to medical review by the Department of Social Protection (DSP) during the course of the claim. Any such medical review will be conducted in order to determine if you continue to meet the medical criteria for qualification and if you continue to remain substantially restricted in undertaking work that would otherwise be suitable for a person of your age, experience and qualifications.

This can include referral to a DSP Medical Assessor or referral to your GP for an updated assessment of your disability. If a review finds that you are no longer ‘substantially restricted in undertaking work’ and your Disability Allowance payment is affected, you have the right to seek a review of any decision and may have the right to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. The INOU provides an Advocacy Service which assists with Social Welfare Appeals.

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Rates of Payment

You will receive a Personal Rate of payment for yourself, and may receive the extra payment for an adult dependent, for example a spouse or partner, if their income is below a certain level. This is called an increase for a qualified adult.

You can also get an extra amount for a dependent child, known as Child Support Payment (previously known as Increase for a Qualified Child), to qualify for this your child must:

• live with you, in the State
• be the correct age for the payment you are claiming (the age varies from scheme to scheme)

The following are the rates of payment on Disability Allowance:

Personal Allowance =	€244.00 (maximum rate)
Qualified Adult =	€162.00 (full rate)
Each Qualified Child =	€50.00 (full rate) – under 12
	€62.00 (full rate) – 12 and over
Half Rate, under 12 =	€25.00
Half Rate Over 12 =	€31.00

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Work and Disability Allowance

If you are in receipt of Disability Allowance (DA) you are allowed to work (employment or self-employment) and retain some or all of your Disability Allowance (DA) payment. You must notify Disability Allowance Section in the Department of Social Protection (DSP) before taking-up any work.

If you start work or self-employment, you need to tell the Department of Social Protection (DSP) and provide proof of your earnings, such as:

• A payslip
• Your contract of employment
• A letter from your employer
• Details of you self-employment (hours / days / earnings)

Failure to notify the Department before taking up employment/self-employment could result in a suspension/withdrawal of your payment and an assessment of over-payment against you.

Work - Assessment of Earnings

You can work / engage in self-employment and earn up to €165 a week (after paying PRSI, pension contributions and union dues) without affecting your rate of Disability Allowance being paid. If you earn more than €165 a week, 50% of your earnings between €165 and €375 will not be taken into account as part of the means test. Any earnings over €375 are assessed in full euro for euro – for example:

Income from work =	€200.00 per week
Earnings disregard =	€165.00 per week
Assessable Balance =	€35.00 per week
50% Assessable Balance (between €165 and €375) = €35 divided by 2	€17.50 per week
Actual assessable income from employment =	€17.50 per week
Result – DA payment will be reduced by (SW19 Rates of payment) =	€10.00 per week

 

Housing - HAP / Rent Supplement

Any additional income from employment, or self-employment, may affect the amount of Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) or Rent Supplement you may qualify to receive. If you, or your spouse or partner, take up employment or self-employment while in receipt of HAP or Rent Supplement you should advise the Local Authority (HAP) or Department of Social Protection (Rent Supplement). Failing to declare additional income while on the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme could lead to an incorrect calculation or rent payable, and result in rent arrears owed to the local authority. Failing to declare additional income while on the Rent Supplement could result in an overpayment on Rent Supplement, and result in an overpayment of Rent Supplement which you may be liable to repay.

Housing - Local Authority Rent

Any additional income from employment, or self-employment, may result in an increase in Local Authority rent, under the Differential Rent Scheme. This means that the amount of rent you must pay could increase. Any failure to advise the local authority of an increase in income from employment or self-employment could result in rent arrears owed to the local authority.

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Ability / Capacity / Qualification

If you are in receipt of Disability Allowance (DA) payment you are allowed to participate in work, self-employment, voluntary work and education / training.

While there is no limit on the number of hours you may work or be involved in voluntary work, education or training (not CE or TUS) you must be mindful of how doing so could affect your continued qualification for Disability Allowance, if you are subject to a review on the grounds of Capacity / Ability or related to your underlying medical condition

The nature, extent, duration of the engagement or number of hours that you engage in work / self-employment / voluntary work / education or training may be considered in deciding if your disability continues to 'Substantially Restrict' you from taking up /undertaking work, education or training, that would otherwise be suitable for a person of your age, experience and qualifications.

Any such assessment or evaluation could affect your underlying qualification / continued qualification for a Disability Allowance payment - for more information about this, please Contact the INOU.

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Returning to Employment

Community Employment

Community Employment (CE) is a programme designed to help people who are in receipt of certain Social Welfare payments, including Disability Allowance, to get back to work by offering part-time and temporary placements in jobs based within local communities.

• The minimum weekly payment (based on 19.5 hours worked) is €271.50 per week.
• If your Disability Allowance is more than €244 per week, you will receive the same amount as your Disability Allowance plus €27.50 per week on CE.
• If your Disability Allowance is less than or equal to €244 per week, you will receive a payment of €271.50 per week on CE.
• You may retain any extra benefits, provided you are still eligible and CE participants can take up other part-time work during their CE placement.

Participants on Community Employment (CE) schemes cannot claim another Social Welfare payment at the same time as engaging in Community Employment. If you are in receipt of Disability Allowance, and wish to participate in a Community Employment (CE) scheme, you must give up your Disability Allowance payment. If your Disability Allowance that you were in receipt of before starting a CE scheme is more than €244 per week, you will receive the same amount as your Disability Allowance Payment plus an additional €27.50 per week.

- Finishing Community Employment: When you finish your CE scheme you can request that your Disability Allowance payment be reinstated.

- Circumstances - No Change: If your circumstances have not changed, and you continue to meet the qualification conditions, your DA payment can be reinstated following the completion of Community Employment (CE) - Notification of Cessation of Community Employment Scheme Employment.

- Circumstances - Changed: If your circumstances changed while on CE you must inform the Department of Social Protection of those changes i.e. partner / spouse has taken up work / self-employment, you have additional capital / savings or property other than your own home, new child, no spouse or partner etc. This could affect the reinstatement of your Disability Allowance payment, or the rate of Disability Allowance you receive.

- Medical Review: Your Disability Allowance, including reinstatement after Community Employment, can be subject to medical review by the Department of Social Protection (DSP). Any such medical review will be conducted in order to determine if you continue to meet the medical criteria for qualification and if you continue to remain substantially restricted in undertaking work that would otherwise be suitable for a person of your age, experience and qualifications.

For more information on Disability Allowance and Community Employment (CE), please visit:

• Department of Social Protection website - Community Employment; or
• Contact the INOU.

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Back to Education Allowance (BTEA)

The Back to Education Allowance provides income support for people on Disabilty Allowance who take an approved full-time course of education at Further or Higher level. The Further Education option supports courses of study for an award up to and including QQI level 6. This can include Junior Certificate, Leaving Certificate, Post Leaving Certificate, courses provided by Education Training Boards and Colleges of Further Education, and foundation/access courses for higher education.

You do not have to have been getting Disability Allowance continuously to qualify. Previous payments claimed within a 12 month period can be linked, (including Jobseeker's Allowance and CE) but you must be on your Disability Allowance payment immediately before starting the course. Time spent on a range of other education, training, work placement and activation schemes may be taken into account to meet the qualifying period.

For more information on Disability Allowance and Back to Education Allowance, please visit:

• Department of Social Protection website - Back to Education Allowance; or
• Contact the INOU.

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JobsPlus

JobsPlus is an employer incentive which encourages and rewards employers who offer employment opportunities to individuals, including those on Disability Allowance, when filling new positions, or re-filling positions that occur from staff turnover. Eligible employers, who employ people on Disability Allowance into full-time employment, can receive regular grant payments from the Department of Social Protection (DSP).

JobsPlus provides employers with two levels of payment: €7,500 or €10,000 over 18 months, with the level of payment depending on the age of the person and the length of time in receipt of a qualifying payment. JobsPlus is available to employers in the private sector, as well as the community, not-for-profit and voluntary sectors.

For more information on Disability Allowance and JobsPlus, please visit:

• Department of Social Protection website - Jobsplus; or
• Contact the INOU.

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Work Placement Experience Programme (WPEP)

The Work Placement Experience Programme (WPEP) is a 6-month, 30 hour per week voluntary work and training experience programme available to persons in receipt of Disability Allowance. If you would like to re-train and gain experience in another type of employment, this programme can help you build new skills and gain work experience.

You can work part-time while you are on the programme, provided the part-time work does not impact your placement. The part-time work cannot be with the WPEP host.

The weekly rate of payment is €359 plus any additional payments you may be entitled to for a Qualified Adult or a Qualified Child. If you are entitled to additional benefits such as Fuel Allowance, Living Alone Increase or Telephone Support Allowance, you can get these in addition to the main WPEP payment.

For more information on Disability Allowance and Work Placement Experience Programme (WPEP), please visit:

• Department of Social Protection - Work Placement Experience Programme (WPEP); or
• Contact the INOU.

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Additional Information

Training Courses (not CE)

Persons on Disability Allowance are allowed to participate on Training Courses. A number of training options are available.

• Full-time Education: Taking up full-time education requires that you inform the Department of Social Protection and identify if you are eligible to apply for the Back to Education Allowance for the course. If the course does not qualify for the BTEA, you will need to engage with the DSP to review your eligibility to take up the course.
• Full-time Education: SOLAS-funded training. Disability Allowance recipients are eligible for a SOLAS Training Allowance instead of Disability Allowance. SOLAS will pay participants a standard weekly training allowance of an amount equal to their current Disability Allowance payment (including Living Alone Allowance, Free Fuel Allowance, etc.), whichever is the greater. In addition, they will get a weekly Training Bonus. In all cases, trainees will retain their secondary benefits; i.e. Free Schemes.
• Part-Time Education: SOLAS training course. If the course is not full time and participants are in receipt of a reduced rate training allowance they will remain on Disability Allowance, but the training allowance will be assessed as means and they will receive a reduced Disability Allowance payment.
• Part-Time Education: Non-SOLAS training: A person in receipt of Disability Allowance can undertake further educational opportunities, where they are not receiving any training allowance, without affecting their payment or any secondary benefits they may have.

Where a Disability Allowance payment is stopped while on a course, you can go back on a Disability Allowance after the course is over, subject to continuing to meet the medical criteria for Disability Allowance and any additional medical assessment required by the Department of Social Protection.

For more information on Disability Allowance and Training Courses, please visit:

• Department of Social Protection - Training Courses and search for "Educational Opportunities" on the page; or
• SOLAS - Training Options; or
• Springboard - Springboard Courses; or
• Contact the INOU.

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SWA Payments

Basic SWA

The Department of Social Protection may have the discretion to allow a person to access certain Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) payments, if a case can be made to show that an exceptional need exists. This includes Additional Needs Payments (ANP's).

If you have no income, you may be entitled to the basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA). If your weekly income is below the Supplementary Welfare Allowance rate for your family size, a payment may be made to bring your income up to the appropriate Supplementary Welfare Allowance rate.

• If you have claimed a social welfare benefit or pension but it has not yet been paid and you have no other income, or
• You are seeking to review a decision by the Department of Social Protection to refuse an application for a payment; or
• You are appealing a decision by the Department of Social Protection to the Social Welfare Appeals Office you may qualify for basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance while you are waiting for your payment.
• However, the amount paid while you are waiting will be deducted from the arrears of your social welfare payment.

If you have started work, you may qualify for basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance for up to 30 days while you are waiting for your wages.

SWA - Rates of Payment

The following are the rates of payment on Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA):

Personal Allowance (Aged 25 and over) =	€242.00 (maximum rate)
Qualified Adult =	€162.00 (full rate)
Each Qualified Child =	€50.00 (full rate) – under 12
	€62.00 (full rate) – 12 and over
Personal Allowance (Aged 18 - 24) =	€153.70
Qualified Adult =	€153.70
Each Qualified Child =	N/A

Reduced rates of Supplementary Welfare Allowance do not apply if you are under 25 years of age and if you :

• are living independently and getting a state housing support such as Rent Supplement, Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) or Housing Assistance Payment (HAP)
• have dependent children or were in the care of the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) for any period during the 12 months before reaching 18 years of age.

For more information on Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA), please visit:

• Department of Social Protection - Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA); or
• Department of Social Protection - Contact Community Welfare Services; or
• Contact the INOU.

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Illness Benefit to Disability Allowance

If you are advised by the Department of Social Protection that you are about to use up all of your entitlement to an Illness Benefit payment, and if you do not qualify for an Invalidity Pension payment, you may be able to apply for Disability Allowance.

In order to qualify for Disability Allowance you must satisfy all of the standard qualifying conditions - Click Here.

For more information on Illness Benefit, please visit:

• Department of Social Protection - Illness Benefit; or
• Contact the INOU.

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Jobseeker's Allowance to Disability Allowance

If you are no longer 'fit for work' as jobseeker on Jobseeker's Allowance, you may be able to apply for a Disability Allowance payment.

• You cannot simply 'Transfer' from Jobseeker's Allowance to Disability Allowance. These are two different schemes, with diffent qualification conditions. You must apply for Disability Allowance and satisfy the standard qualifying conditions in order to qualify for that payment
• You can remain on your Jobseeker's Allowance payment while you are awaiting a decision on your Disability Allowance Application - see Jobseekers Allowance - Entitlement Pending Disability Allowance Decision - section 2.5 - Capable of Work.
• If your application for Disability Allowance is refused, you have the right to seek a Review of that decision and / or appeal that decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. You may not be able to remain on your Jobseeker's Allowance payment while you are undertaking a Review or Appeal and it may be necessary to apply for Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) until you receive a decision on your Review / Appeal.

If you are currently in receipt of a Jobseeker's Allowance payment and are considering applying for Disability Allowance and require more information, please visit:

• Disability Allowance Appeals - INOU Social Welfare Appeals Service;
• For general information on Disability Allowance - Contact the INOU.

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