Disability group calls for progress on allowance refusal

The Disability Federation of Ireland says it hopes to “progress” talks with the Department of Social Protection on the issue of the high rate of refusal on applications for the disability allowance.

Figures provided by the department show that of the 27,608 disability allowance eligibility decisions made last year, 13,732 applications were turned down on the basis that they did not satisfy the qualifying criteria on initial assessment.

That refusal rate actually decreased slightly compared to the equivalent figure for 2013, but the figures also indicate that more than half of all refusals that are then appealed are subsequently granted.