WRC rejects age and disability discrimination complaint over €500 grant

The Workplace Relations Commission found Aine Wellard’s complaint that she was excluded from a €500 disability grant because of age and disability discrimination was not well founded. The decision was dated 20 January 2025. Wellard said she would have received the grant if she had remained on disability allowance after turning 66 and that it would have helped with disability-related costs. The Minister For Social Protection denied discrimination, saying the state pension payment was €34 higher than her disability allowance. The adjudication officer found that regulations excluded people receiving the non-contributory state pension from the grant, and that the Department’s action was required by law. No award was recorded.