Over 100,000 claim disability allowance

THE number of people claiming disability allowance has risen above 100,000 for the first time ever, costing taxpayers more than €1.1 billion annually, figures have revealed.

A record 101,042 people were in receipt of the allowance at the end of September, an increase of 4,970 from January 2009, figures from the Department of Social Protection show.

However, there is strong evidence to show people are abusing the payment.