THE HSE HAS sent letters to people receiving the Mobility Allowance, informing them that they will receive their final payment on 26 June.
The HSE said that the Mobility Allowance ended to new applicants with effect from close of business on 26 February. The Mobility Allowance is a monthly payment, and persons who were in receipt of it will continue to do so for four months from February.
Payments will cease from 26 June. Fresh applications that were received by the HSE on or before 26 February will be processed. If the applicants are found to be qualified after their assessment, they will be paid the allowance from the date of the application up until 26 June.
The HSE is informing each recipient of the Mobility Allowance of these facts. Letters were issued on an individual basis from local health offices.
It was announced in February that the government is to axe the Mobility Allowance and Transport Grant and intends to devise an alternative scheme to meet people’s needs.
In total, 4,700 people receive a Mobility Allowance and 300 people a year receive a Motorised Transport Grant. However, Junior Health Minister Kathleen Lynch said that the government had no option but to axe both payments.
This follows a finding by the Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly that the exclusion of people over the age of 65 from the scheme was illegal and breached equality law. The government says that it would cost up to €300 million to widen the scheme.
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