Marie Moloney (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy John Perry, for coming to the House to address this issue. Although it is not within his remit, I am sure he has been well briefed. I know he will have a good answer for me.

I have a number of clients who are in receipt of carer’s benefit. However, payment of the benefit stopped after one year. When the persons concerned contacted the Department of Social Protection, they were told they needed to fill in a new form and provide updated documents, in particular one from their employer indicating how many hours they had worked during the year. That is fine, but I urge the Department to notify recipients of carer’s benefit four weeks in advance of the review of the documents required to ensure continuation of payment.

The Minister of State will appreciate that carers have enough to do without running around trying to find out why their payment was stopped or why no money is going into their bank account. They visit me, their local social welfare office or call the carers section of the Department only to be told they need to fill out a form. Just as one is sent a letter saying one's illness benefit will terminate in two months, for example, the carer's benefit section should adopt the same procedure, write to recipients stating the information required and that there is a deadline in four weeks. Sometimes, the benefit is the only income carers have. It is sometimes coupled with a small income from 15 hours work or less. Carers are, therefore, left high and dry without money for a number of weeks until the payment is reinstated. I welcome the response of the Minister of State on this.