Over half of disability allowances not granted

More than half of all applicants for the disability allowance were not granted the payment last year, while figures show 340 people had the payment withdrawn after a medical check.

Statistics for 2012 from the Department of Social Protection show half of the cases refused the payment were later awarded it after appeal — a situation described as “worrying” by the Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI).

The departmental figures show 26,159 disability allowance claims were processed last year, with 40% (10,400 claims) awarded and 55% (14,519 claims) refused. A further 1,240 claims were withdrawn.