Capital assessment process should be made fairer for people with lifelong disabilities – Ó Cuív

Fianna Fáil TD for Galway West, Éamon Ó Cuív, has called on the Minister for Social Protection to change the process used to assess capital when applying for social welfare payments.

Changes proposed by Deputy Ó Cuív would make the system fairer for people with long term disabilities who may inherit sums of money from parents to provide for their care needs later in life.

He commented, “There are a considerable number of people in receipt of disability allowance, who have severe lifelong disabilities and who will never have a capability of making social welfare contributions. These recipients of disability allowance are means-tested.

“A particular challenge to them is the fact that their payment of €203.00 per week is reduced, if they have means over a certain amount. This becomes a critical issue if elderly parents try to make long-term provision, through life-long savings for their children who have disabilities. In many cases parents may leave their child properties or put money aside for them.

“It also becomes a big issue if on the death of a parent, people on disability allowance, who have life-long disabilities, receive money or property in a Will. For example, anybody who would inherit over €100k to keep them going for the rest of their life, in some comfort, would receive no disability allowance whatsoever.

“Fairness and compassion should be brought to the assessment process in the Department. A special exemption should be given to people with life-long disabilities. They should not be punished if they happen to inherit money from parents or family,” concluded Deputy Ó Cuív.