Disabled children ‘refused’ benefit payment

Parents of disabled children who need special care are being unfairly denied a welfare benefit by officials who are ignoring doctors’ letters which back up their applications, it has been claimed.

Controversy around the domiciliary care allowance (DCA), which had been administered by the HSE, has been ratcheting up ever since the Department of Social Protection took responsibility of the payment.

Richard Boyd Barrett, who has raised the issue in the Dáil, said he was getting a “constant stream of complaints” that people were being refused if any excuse can be found — even if they meet the criteria laid down.