Compare Ireland's Cheapest Electricity Providers with Selectra Today!

Call our Selectra agents today for expert and trusted advice on switching electricity providers and make sure that you are getting the cheapest deal on electricity prices. Figures quoted do not include cashback offers and are available for direct debit payment.

Fixed Rate 24hr

Estimated Annual Bill

€1,242.95 /year

Call to Switch Now

Variable Rate 24hr

Estimated Annual Bill

€1,270.59 /year

Call to Switch Now

Fixed Rate 24hr

Estimated Annual Bill

€1,271.62 /year

Call to Switch Now

A Guide To The Disability Allowance 2024

Created on
min reading
disability allowance banner

The disability allowance is a weekly payment made to people who suffer from mental or physical disabilites, or who suffer from long term health issues due to injury. Any person who has a physical or mental disability, or a long term injury or disease that affects them in their everyday life can apply. Appications can be made at any time and the current personal rate for 2024/2025 is €232 a week.

⭐ Everything You Need To Know About Disability Allowance
💸 How much is the disability allowance in Ireland?As of 2024, the disability allowance is currently €232 a week for the personal rate. The rate for adult dependents is €154, for children under 12 it is €46 and for children over 12, €54
🙋 Who is eligible for the disability allowance?Any person who has a physical or mental disability, or a long term injury or disease that affects them in their everyday life can apply.
📝 How do I apply for the disability allowance?You can apply for the disability allowance by filling out the disability allowance application and taking it to your nearest Intreo Centre or a Social Welfare Branch Office.
📞 What is the phone number to apply for Fuel Allowance?You can contact the Department of Social Protection on (043) 334 0000, Monday to Friday, 9am - 6pm.
❄ Are there extra payments this winter?There will be a once off payment of €400 in Novemebr 2024.

What Is the Disability Allowance?

The disability allowance is a weekly payment paid to individuals with a disability. You are eligible for the payment from the age of 16.

You can still recieve it while attending school.

You can also qualify for other social welfare payments and schemes while receiving the disability allowance provided you meet the criteria.

Who Is Eligible for the Disability Allowance?

In order to apply for the Disability Allowance, you must meet the following criteria for the scheme:

  • 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.
  • Be substantially restricted from doing work because of your disability, that would be suitable for a person of your age, experience and qualifications.
  • Be aged between 16 and 66.
  • Pass a financial means test.
  • Live in Ireland.

Which Disabilities Qualify for the Disability Allowance Ireland?

There isn’t a list of specific diseases, injuries or disabilities that might or might not qualify for the disability allowance.

However, you disability situation need to fulfil a number of requirements to make you eligible:

  • Long-Term Disability or Illness
    Your illness or disability will need to have been constant for at least a year or more to qualify. If you’ve been ill but you’ve gotten better before one year has passed, you won’t be able to receive the allowance.
  • Substantial Restriction
    You will also need to show that you are ‘substantially restricted’ because of your illness or disability. This means that you’re unable to do a job that would be able to otherwise for your qualifications, age, and situation.
  • Age Requirements
    You can apply for the allowance between the ages of 16 and 66. You can receive it even if you’re still attending school. If you are over 66, there are other welfare support programmes available with your pension.

Do I Need a Medical Assessment for the Disability Allowance?

You will need to have your disability or illness verified with a medical assessment.

This means your doctor needs to complete a medical report that will be confirmed by the DSP medical assessors to make sure you definitely qualify for the it.

If you’re in hospital care or in a residency, you can still apply and qualify, as long as you meet the rest of the criteria.

What Income Requirements Are There?

The disability allowance is a means-tested benefit. This means your income will need to be assessed to make sure you’re earning below the limit to qualify.

The DSP examines your income for the following:

  1. Income
    This is your regular income as a household you might receive from your job and other benefits packages. If you have a spouse or cohabitant, their income will be assessed as well. This does not include your parents’ income if you’re living with them.
  2. Capital
    The value of all your assets will also be taken into account. This will include any investments or savings you might have, as well as your house’s value if you have one.

    The first €50,000 is not considered but anything above might mean a lower payment. If you sell your home, the first €190,500 from the sale will not be taken into account.

  3. Maintenance
    If you’re receiving a maintenance payment, this will also be taken into account when you apply for the disability allowance.

How Much Can I Earn on Disability Allowance in Ireland?

If you are working, the first €165 of your weekly income doesn’t count towards your allowance. As your income increases, the higher the percentage is assessed, so if you’re earning between €165 to €375 only 50% is assessed. Any amount over €375 a week is fully assessed in the means-test.

What If My Spouse or Partner Works?

If your spouse or partner works, some of their income might not be included in the means-test. If your partner works, then your disability allowance might be less than if they weren’t working.

You should bear this in mind when filling out the form that if you receive less than you are expecting, it might be because your spouse or partner is earning more.

How Many Hours Can I Work on Disability Allowance in Ireland?

There are no restricitions to the amount of hours you can work while receiving the allowance.

How Do I Apply for the Disability Allowance?

You can apply for the disability allowance in multiple ways depending on what best suits you.

You will need to fill in the application form and then take it to your nearest Intreo Centre or a Social Welfare Branch Office where you can hand it in.

You can even go through Citizens Information who can help you out by filling it in.

How Do I Fill In the Disability Allowance Application Form?

The disability allowance application form is a 24-page document with 11 parts to fill in. It does seem like a lot of information but you will only need to fill in the information that relates to you.

You’ll need to fill in the information in block capitals with a black pen. Here’s a step by step guide to help you fill in the disability application form:

  1. Personal Details
    Here is where you will need to fill in your personal details. You will need to include your name, PPS number, marital status, address and contact details. You will also need to indicate where you’re in full time education or not.
  2. Partner’s Details
    For the next step, you will need to include the same personal details for your partner as well. If you don’t have a partner, you can leave this section blank.
  3. Work and Claim Details
    If you have a partner, the next section you will need to fill in about you and your partner’s employment situation. You need to apply with at least three payment slips as proof of income as well as details of the company you or your partner are employed by. You will also need to indicate if either of you receive another social welfare benefit.
  4. Nationality and Residency
    In this section, you will just need to confirm your nationality and your residency situation in Ireland. If you’ve lived abroad within the last five years you will need to specify where, which dates you were there, and why you were living there.
  5. Details of Your Children
    If you have children, you will need to fill in their names, dates of birth, their PPS numbers, and whether they live with you or not. You can also indicate at the top whether you wish to apply for an increase if you have qualified children. If your child is between the ages of 18-22, you’ll need a written confirmation from the school to attach.
  6. Other Payments
    In the same form, you can also indicate if you want to apply for, the living alone increase, the household benefits package, the free electricity or gas allowance, or the free TV licence.
  7. Payment Details
    Here you will need to fill in your payment details including the name of your bank with your IBAN and Bank Identifier Code (BIC). If you would prefer to collect your payment, you will need to detail the post office from which you want to receive your payment.
  8. Checklist
    Run through the checklist to double check what you’ve already filled in and what you’ve left. This is important so you don’t leave anything out when making your application for the disability payment and it’s good to help you keep track.
  9. Medical Report
    You’ll need to fill in the medical report section. You’ll need to provide details of your disability or illness, along with your working situation, and your education details. There is a list of conditions you will need to tick off to ensure that you do qualify for the ‘substantially restricted’ requirement of the payment.
  10. Declaration
    You will need to sign the declaration at the end to ensure that you’ve provided all the information to the best of your ability and make the date when it was signed.
  11. Permission to Release Medical Details
    The last part of the form is just to give permission for the DSP medical assessors to access your medical information. There are two parts to this, Part A is for you to fill in and Part B is for your doctor.

After you have completed the form, you can then send it off to the DSP for them to assess your situation and determine whether you qualify for the payment.

How Much Is the Disability Allowance in Ireland?

The disability allowance rate depends on a lot of factors such as your employment status and whether you have any dependents that you need to maintain. These are the current rates as of 2024:

💰 Disability Allowance Rates 2024

Situation

Rate

Personal Rate

€232

Adult Dependant

€154

Child Dependent under 12

€46 (Full)
€23 (Half)

Child Dependent 12 or over

€54 (Full)
€27 (Half)

Source: Citizen Information
Last Updated: November 2024

From January 2025, the Disability Allowance will increase by €12 proportional increases for qualified adults and people on reduced rates of payment.

In addition to this, the Increase for a Qualified Child (IQC) will be renamed the Child Support Payment. The weekly rate will increase by €4 from €46 to €50, for children under 12 years of age. It will increase by €8 from €54 to €62 for children aged 12 years and over. (January 2025).

Once-off €400 Payment

It was announced as part of Budget 2025 that those on the Disability Allowance will also receive an additional, once-off payment of €400 this winter.

What Is the Phone Number for Disability Allowance?

The main phone number for Disability Allowance is (043) 334 0000, Monday to Friday, 9am - 6pm.

When you apply, or if you want to ask a question about your payment, you will need to get in touch with the Department of Social Protection and talk to their Social Welfare Services Office.

You can use a number of different contact methods:

📞 Disability Allowance Contact Details
ContactDetails
Phone Number(043) 334 0000

0818 927 770

Monday to Friday, 9am - 6pm.

Email[email protected]
PostDepartment of Social Protection
Social Welfare Services Office
Government Buildings
Ballinalee Road
Co. Longford
N39 E4E0

What Extra Benefits Am I Entitled to on Disability Allowance?

If you qualify for and receive the disability allowance, you will also be eligible for extra social welfare benefits to help you out with your day-to-day.

There are a range of different benefits that provide help for transport, housing, and energy:

  1. Free Travel
    For persons over the age of 66, you’re usually entitled to free travel throughout Ireland. If you have the disability allowance and are under 66, you will also be entitled to free travel.
  2. Household Benefits Package
    The household benefits package is a payment from the government to help you out with your household costs.

    It can include an electricity or gas allowance, or a free TV licence so you’re not paying the full price for living if you’re struggling financially. If you receive the disability allowance you can be entitled to the household benefits package as well.

  3. Living Alone Increase
    If you are living alone and qualify for the disability allowance, you can also receive a supplementary payment to help you out with costs.
  4. Fuel Allowance
    The fuel allowance is available for people who are struggling to meet their heating needs. If you qualify for the disability allowance, you can also receive the fuel allowance and especially if you need a lot of heating for your disability.

There are also a number of other extra benefits that you might also qualify.

You should double check exactly what your eligibility is so you don’t miss out on making things easier for yourself in the light of the current cost-of-living crisis.

SEAI Grants

There are also a number of SEAI grants that can help with reducing home energy bills such as the Windows and Doors grant.

Did you find this information useful? 100% of the 48 votes found the information useful.

The services and products mentioned on this website may only represent a small selection of the options available to you. Selectra encourages you to carry out your own research and seek advice if necessary before making any decisions. We may receive commission from selected partner providers on sales of some products and/or services mentioned within this website. Our website is free to use, and the commission we receive does not affect our opinion or the information we provide.

Click to Start Saving

Our Energy Experts Are Here to Help You Save Money with Selectra!

⭐ Price comparison service to help you save money on your energy bills

⭐ Personalised and professional advice from our energy experts

⭐ Switch in minutes over the phone

⭐ Completely free service with no hidden costs

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.6/5 - Our Customer Reviews on Trustpilot 

*Our energy experts, who specialise in the Irish energy market, are trained representatives of Selectra.ie and offer a free of charge, price comparison service.

Our Call Centre Is Currently Closed, But You Can Still Talk To One Of Our Energy Expert.

 Get a Free Callback

Click Here To Request a Free Callback Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm and One of Our Agents Will Be In Contact With You

*Our energy experts, who specialise in the Irish energy market, are trained representatives of Selectra.ie and offer a free of charge, price comparison service.