ENDA KENNY speaking in the Dail this morning, said the proposal to increase the age of entitlement for new claimants of disability benefit from 16 to 18 would be “paused”.
Somebody entitled to disability benefit, who turns 16 on or after January 1st will be able to draw their disability payment as before, he said. The measure to stop this payment until 18 will not now be included in the Social Welfare Bill which will be debated and completed tomorrow and Friday.
(The new rate will still be lower in Jan 2012 than it is now )
See details of proposed Disability Allowance Changes
However, Mr Kenny said he would not instruct Ms Burton to restore other payments until the working group on the taxation of social welfare payments considers the issue.