There was is some bad news for disabled teenagers between the ages of 16 to 18 years old this morning, after the Government revealed they are set to consider proposals that would see the minimum age for those wishing to claim disability allowance being raised from 16 to 18.
In detailed document drawn up for the Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar, officials are advising that the minimum age be raised in order to be in line with Job seekers benefit which also has a minimum age 18. It is also believed their is no provisions set aside for the return of the Christmas bonus this year.
The paper, which was recently obtained by the Irish Times, apparently advises Mr Varadkar to reform disability and illness payments in a move away from passive benefits towards “income and labour market integration for people with disabilities”.
The apparently reads as follows: “To this end, the department has developed proposals to reform disability and illness payments so that capacity . . . is acknowledged and supported, by including people with disabilities in a more structured way in the activation programme, ie as a cohort within the broad definition of ‘job seekers’.
“Following on from this approach, the minimum qualifying age for illness and disability income support payments would be set at 18 years of age.
“The approach of the reform proposal would be to ensure that access to long-term schemes would be confined to those with more severe and long-term illnesses/ disabilities . . . income supports would continue to be provided to those who have a restriction in their capacity to work due to illness or disability, using a more nuanced activation/ engagement process delivered via the Intreo office network.”
Source: Irish Times