Rehabilative Earnings query

tony glenn

I'm receiving DA and doing a small amount of rehabilative work (well under the limit, and fully approved ). So I'm receiving the full adult amount. What's puzzling me is that my partner, who is also receiving DA, is being deducted a small amount weekly because of my 'earnings'.
They have produced a weekly 'after expenses' figure as my earnings, divided it in half, and taken one half from my partner's allowance.
Surely, if I'm allowed to earn a certain amount doing rehabilative work, why is my partner being penalised?
Maybe the answer is obvious, but I can't see it!

mp22

Perhaps it is because DA is a means tested payment.

Kristopherus

There's an anomaly there somewhere.

mp22

If your earnings are over €120 a week there will be some means involved.

tony glenn

My earnings are for irregular, part-time work.... and never more than 50 euro a week. But thinking about it, the letter to my partner says 'your means have been assessed as' etc, so it obviously is a means-adjusted payment.
Which is weird....I'm receiving the earnings, and my DA isn't being reduced (despite the increase in my 'means') but my partner's DA is reduced because of it. Go figure!
Does this also mean that when I reach retirement age, and my DA switches to a Contributory State Pension (which will be slightly more than the DA), my partner's DA will go down even more?

eastbono

Your DA isnt reduced because you are undertaking rehabilative work and are within the earning limits...but your partners DA will of course be affected by your earnings. Any earnings from your rehabilative employment will be assessed against your partners claim. Your partner is on a means assessed payment therefore any earnings from your employment will be assessed. When you switch to OACP and if you are stlll working then this will affect your partners DA payment.