Disability Allowance is a weekly allowance paid to people with a disability. You can get it from 16 years of age.
If you are in education when you turn 16, you can continue to attend school while receiving this allowance.
A person in receipt of Disability Allowance can take up employment or self-employment. The first €140 of weekly income from that employment (after deduction of PRSI, pension contributions and union dues) is disregarded for the purpose of the means test. 50% of their weekly earnings between €140 and €350 is then disregarded for the purpose of the means test. Any further earnings, over €350 per week, are fully assessed for the purpose of the means test.
Disability Allowance payments, including increases for dependent adults or children and other Allowances paid with the payment, are fully exempt from income tax, PRSI and USC
If you are getting Disability Allowance and go into hospital or residential care, you will continue to get your payment as long as you meet the qualifying conditions.
If you qualify for Disability Allowance, you may also get extra social welfare benefits with your payment and other supplementary welfare payments.
To qualify, 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
- be substantially restricted from doing work that would otherwise be suitable for a person of your age, experience and qualifications
- be aged between 16 and 66. When you reach 66 years of age you no longer qualify for Disability Allowance, but you are assessed for a State Pension.
- satisfy a means test (a test of your income and any income from your spouse or partner, and the results will be used to work out your rate of pay) and habitual residence conditions
If you are married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting and you both qualify for Disability Allowance, you will each get a weekly personal rate of Disability Allowance.
If either you or your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant qualifies for Disability Allowance and the other person is getting another social welfare payment, you will each get the weekly personal rate of your respective payment.
| Weekly rate | |||
| Personal rate | €208.00 | ||
| Increase for qualified adult | €138.00 | ||
| Increase for a qualified child | Under 12 | Over 12 | |
| Full-rate | €40.00 | €48.00 | |
| Half-rate | €20.00 | €24.00 |
Qualified adult means that your spouse’s or partner’s income is below a certain level and you receive an increase in your payment for them. You may also get an extra amount for your child, called an increase for a qualified child.
To get an Increase for a Qualified Child , 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)
To apply, fill in the Disability Allowance application form at the bottom of this page. You can also get this form at your local:
Please send your completed application form and supporting documents to:
Disability Allowance Section
Address:
Department of Social Protection, Social Welfare Services Office, Government Buildings, Ballinalee Road, Co. Longford, N39 E4E0.
Website:
Email:
Phone number:
Operational guidelines describe the processes and procedures that staff in the department follow when carrying out their work.
