Over 60% of disability benefit applications turned down

Three out of every five applications for disability allowance have been rejected since the start of this year — up significantly from the Celtic Tiger era.

New Department of Social Protection figures show that between Jan and Apr, officials turned down 4,823 of the 7,857 processed applications. The 61% rejection rate is higher than the 46%, 54% and 58% annual refusal figures since 2009. Rejection rates from 2006 to 2008 stood at just 40%.

In the first four months of this year, 4,823 applications were turned down.

The figures, provided to Fine Gael TD Bernard Durkan, show that, from 2009 to 2011, this level rose drastically, with rejections rising to 9,677, 10,316, and 14,116. The full 2012 rate is on course to hit 15,000.

During the same period, the number of applications for the allowance rose from a boom-time 2006-2008 level of 18,422, 18,653, and 21,965, to a recession-era rate of 20,794, 21,400, and 24,264.

In a statement to the Irish Examiner, a Department of Social Protection spokesman said there have been “no changes implemented in recent years to the underlying eligibility conditions for disability allowance”.

The spokesman said: “The refusal rate in any year is dependent on the extent to which the relevant applications meet the eligibility conditions of the scheme.” He added that last year the State spent more than €1bn on disability allowances.”

Theresa Compagno, of Enable Ireland said: “It is vitally important in times of economic difficulties, when people with disabilities may find it ever more difficult to access employment, that they receive necessary state supports acknowledging their naturally higher costs of living.”

Full details on eligibility criteria for the disability allowance are available at www.citizensinformation.ie