Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Domiciliary Care Allowance is payable to a parent / guardian in respect of a child aged under 16 who has a severe disability requiring continual or continuous care and attention substantially in excess of the care and attention normally required by a child of the same age and where the level of the child's disability is such that the child is likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 consecutive months.

I can confirm that my Department received an application for Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) in respect of their child from the person concerned on 26 April 2024.

As part of the decision process, their application was referred for the professional opinion of a departmental Medical Assessor (MA) and is awaiting an MA assessment to date.

On receipt of the MA opinion, a decision will be made on their application and the person concerned will be notified directly of the decision in writing.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Carer's Benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention.

To qualify, the Carer must satisfy PRSI conditions; employment conditions; show that they are providing full-time care and attention; and must show that the care recipient requires full-time care and attention.

An application for CARB was received from the person concerned on 5 March 2024.

As part of the decision process, the application was referred for the professional opinion of a departmental Medical Assessor (MA). The claim was disallowed as the Deciding Officer (DO), having regard to the opinion of the MA, decided that the information supplied did not show that the care recipient required full time care. The person concerned was notified on 9 April 2024 of this decision, the reasons for it and of their right of review and appeal.

A request for a review with further medical evidence was received on 25 April 2024. The DO assessed all information and the outcome was that the decision remained unchanged. The person concerned was notified of this review decision on 25 April 2024 and also of there right of review and appeal.

A request for a further review was received on 2 May 2024. The outcome of this review was that the decision remained unchanged. The person concerned was notified of this decision on 7 May 2024 and of their right of review and appeal.

It remains open to the person concerned to request a further review (where further medical information / evidence is available) and / or to submit a request for an appeal of the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.