Various Grants

Domiciliary Care Allowance

A Domiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly payment to assist with the cost of a severely disabled child who requires full-time care and attention. The requirements must be such as are substantially beyond the requirements of a non-disabled child of the same age. The benefit is at €309.50 per month.

The allowance is paid to a qualified person. It is paid in respect of a quantified child. A qualified child is a child who is under 16 and has a severe disability which requires continuous care and attention substantially in excess of that normally required for a child of the same age. The disability must be such that the child is likely to continue to require such care and attention for at least 12 months.

Claim and Eligibility

The claim is assessed by medical assessors of the Department.  The child must reside with the qualified person, and that person must provide for the child’s care. The person concerned must be habitually resident in the State.

The payment  is not subject to a means test or contribution requirements. The child must ordinarily reside in the State. The allowance is also available to certain  members of the Defence Forces and Civil Service posted overseas or within international organisation and certain volunteered workers.

The child must not be detained in a place of detention or detention school. It is not payable while the child is resident in an institution. This is a hospital, home, home for children suffering from disabilities and any other similar establishment, where the cost of the child’s maintenance is paid in whole or in part by the HSE or Department of Education.

A reduced allowance may be payable in respect of a child temporarily resident with the qualified person for at least two days in any week.

The allowance continues to be paid for a child admitted to an institution on a full-time basis for the purpose of receiving medical treatment of a temporary nature of not more than 13 weeks, within a yearly period.

Mobility Allowance

The Mobility Allowance support is a means tested payment, paid  to persons unable to walk or use public transport. It was formerly operated by the Health Service Executive and Health Board.

A person between 16 and 66 years may qualify. A person who qualifies before that age may contribute to qualify. The person must normally live at home. Up to eight weeks duration in a hospital and equivalent institution is allowed while remaining qualified.

There are a number of mobility criteria.

• if the applicant is unable to walk, even with artificial limbs or other aids;
• if the health condition of the applicant is such that walking is dangerous;
• if in the either of the above cases, if the incapacity is permanent or at least a year
• there are medical reasons that impair mobility
• whether they would applicant benefit from change in surrounding.

The higher rate is €108.50 per month. A lower rate of €104.25 is payable to persons who use the disabled drivers and disabled passengers tax relief scheme. Persons who receive a motorised transport grant from the HSE cease to qualify for the Mobility Allowance.

Blind Pension Increases

Blind Pension increases are payable in respect of a claimant living with or maintaining a spouse or civil partner whose spouse is not in receipt of a payment. Increments are payable to persons who live alone. Household benefits are generally available.

A person is disqualified, where he is receiving a contributory pension. He is disqualified when in imprisonment or legal detention. Habitual residence requirements apply. The payment is not generally payable when a person resides outside the State.