Local General Election candidate for Dublin South West, Teresa Costello, believes it’s time there was a discussion on the age of which Domiciliary Allowance ceases to be paid, and children aged 16 having to apply for Disability Payment. Domiciliary allowance is a monthly payment for a child aged under 16, who has a severe disability, paid directly to parents who often rely on this money for essential developmental supports for their children. Costello has stated she has spoken with parents on the doors who have expressed their concern that the Domiciliary Payment stops when the child hits 16, and then the child must apply for Disability Benefit in their own right with monies then being paid directly to the child
Cllr Costello has discussed this with concerned constituents on her campaign trail, and opened a discussion on the matter online, where there has been lots of engagement from concerned parents.
Costello said: “I have heard loads of stories from concerned parents about the age of their children receiving money from their allowance. “Is it time to increase the qualifying age receiving domiciliary allowance to 18? A lot of parents I have engaged with are concerned their children aren’t independent enough to look after their own money and afraid of them being taken advantage of.”
Costello took to her online platforms to speak further about this matter, and a lot of parents shared the same concerns raised at doors. “I started a discussion on this matter online, and I was not surprised with the interaction as it’s been coming up a lot on the doors. The overall consensus of parents is the same, they want Domiciliary to continue to 18 as they feel 16 is too young to be in receipt of Disability Payment.
“Maybe it is time now for the Department to engage with these parents after all they are best placed to understand the impact this has on families. “I will be contacting my party colleague and Minister of State Anne Rabbitte on this matter to open discussion on this for my constituents,” she concluded.
