Support group queries high rate of refusal for Disability Allowance

Disability campaigners have expressed concern at the “culture of refusal” in the Department of Social Protection, citing the high rate of applications for disability allowance that are turned down.

New figures provided by the department show that 24,686 disability allowance applications were decided last year, of which 13,665 were refused.

The refusal rate of more than 55% was then reversed when it came to appeals. Of the 6,808 disability allowance appeals completed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office last year, 3,966 were allowed or partially allowed and 2,842 were disallowed.