213. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a person on disability allowance who is allowed to work for rehabilitative purposes through the partial capacity benefit scheme is permitted to work as an employee and a self-employed person simultaneously. [20371/15]

I consider it important that the social welfare system facilitates and supports people with disabilities who feel they have some capacity to take up or re-enter employment or take up self-employment.

A person in receipt of disability allowance (DA) can work either as an employee or in self-employment - where the employment is certified as being for rehabilitative purposes - and earn up to €120 per week without the person’s rate of DA being affected, while a person in receipt of illness benefit (for a period of at least 6 months) or invalidity pension can avail of partial capacity benefit (PCB), which again allows the person to work (or take up self-employment) and retain a portion of their social welfare payment.

However, PCB is not open to DA recipients – rather the latter can avail of the earnings disregard if they wish to take up work or self-employment.