Mental health biggest issue for disability pay recipients

The majority of people who receive a disability allowance believe mental health is the issue that affects them the most — ahead of any mobility or physical issue.

The survey of 3,000 recipients, conducted by the Department of Social Protection, also highlights fears of losing their medical card or social welfare benefits if they get a job, and also obstacles to entering education or the labour market.

Joan O’Donnell, development officer with the Disability Federation of Ireland, said the survey gave “a unique insight into just how much people with disabilities have been left behind in Irish society”.

The survey was conducted after the department’s statistics unit took a random sample of 12,007 people in receipt of the payment as of August last year and issued each person with a survey pack. It had 3,198 responses — a 27% response rate.

The results show:

• Those longest in receipt of disability allowance are less likely to express an interest in either part-time or full-time work;
• Almost a third (31%) said they had never worked;
• 56% said that they had previously worked either part-time or full-time;
• 13% said they were currently working.

Of those currently working or with past work experience, 37% said it was in community, voluntary or ‘occasional’ work, while 63% said it had been in paid employment or self-employment.

The survey also showed that when it comes to educational achievement, “only a minority of recipients reported educational attainment beyond junior secondary education or special school”, with fewer than 10% having a degree and just 2% having a post-graduate qualification.

While 13% said they were attending an education or training course, 67% said it was more than five years since they last took part in education or training. And while 44% said they were not interested in education or training, 56% said they were interested or a little interested in doing so.

When asked to rank the health issues that affect them, 50% said mental health issues, while 49% said mobility issues. Just over 30% said it was intellectual disability and more than 20% said it was heart and breathing problems. When it came to difficulty with everyday tasks, 83% said they had moderate or severe difficulty in completing, or being unable to complete, everyday tasks. Three-quarters of respondents said their disability affects them all the time.

Regarding what supports are important in helping them achieve their employment ambitions and goals, the medical card was the most often mentioned support, cited by 64% of respondents, with family, mentioned by 59% of respondents, in second place.