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.