Marie Moloney (Labour)
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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.

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator for raising this. On behalf of the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, I welcome the opportunity to outline to the Seanad the range of entitlements available to carers from the Department of Social Protection. One would imagine, based on the issue raised, that the intelligent approach would be to give the notification such that one would not have to reapply. I will raise that with the Minister.

The existing entitlements include carer's benefit, carer's allowance and the half-rate carer's allowance, which is payable in addition to most other social welfare entitlements. In addition, the Department pays an annual respite care grant in respect of each care recipient, and carer's allowance recipients may be entitled to the household benefit package. In 2012, the Department spent in excess of €670 million on payments to carers, appreciating the key role they play in society.

One of the schemes entails the carer's benefit, a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce to care for a person or persons in need of full-time care and attention. Carer's benefit is available for a total period of 104 weeks for each person being cared for. This may be claimed as a single continuous period or in any number of separate periods up to a total of 104 weeks.

If one is caring for more than one person, one may receive carer's benefit for each care recipient for 104 weeks whether consecutively or concurrently. In common with all social welfare schemes, reviews are carried out on carer's benefit claims as appropriate to ensure recipients remain eligible for the payment. That is related to the Senator's point although it still does not answer her question. It is not the case that carer's benefit claims are routinely reviewed after 12 months. However, carer's benefit will expire after a period of 104 weeks spent caring. Carer's benefit recipients whose benefit is due to expire are written to well in advance of expiry and advised of their options. The personal rate of payment for carer's benefit is €205 a week, plus €29.50 for each qualified child. There is an increase of 50% of the personal rate for those who care for more than one care recipient at the same time. The value of the annual respite care grant is €1,375 in respect of each care recipient. These rates of payments have been maintained in budget 2014.

Carer's leave complements the carer's benefit scheme. The relevant employment legislation ensures that those who are entitled to carer's leave will have their jobs kept open for them for the duration of the leave. Carer's leave from employment may be taken irrespective of whether a person qualifies for a carer's payment from the Department once the person being cared for is in need of full-time care and attention.

Marie Moloney (Labour)
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We spent two hours today speaking about reform of the Seanad, Dáil and Oireachtas procedures. The first step we could take is reformation of the replies to questions raised on the Adjournment. I did not ask for the information given in the reply provided by the Minister of State. All I heard was what carers are entitled to. I know well what they are entitled to, as do the Minister of State and all my colleagues. I asked why the Department could not send out a reminder. There is one line in the reply that refers to this: “It is not the case that carer's benefit claims are routinely reviewed after 12 months.” Why are my clients having their payments stopped? The Minister of State may not be able to answer as he is not in the Department of Social Protection. Why are payments stopped because individuals need to send in further documentation? A form needs to be filled out. It is sent to the individuals, who must take it to their employer. The reply, presumably prepared by an official in the Department, is saying it is not the case that carer's benefit claims are routinely reviewed after 12 months but I contend they are because my clients' payments continue to be stopped because of the form not being filled out. Somebody is getting the message wrong. I did not need to be told about carer's leave or the respite care grant, the half rate and the full rate. I know all about them. We could start by reforming the way in which Ministers answer questions during Adjournment debates. To be honest, this reply is a load of rubbish. I am not getting at the Minister of State-----

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Not at all.

Marie Moloney (Labour)
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I am just telling him that there is but one line in the whole reply that refers to my question, and it is not even right.

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I fully appreciate the Senator's view and respect the integrity of her case. In fairness to the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, she is very much a reforming Minister and has made many changes regarding the automation-----

Marie Moloney (Labour)
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I am sure she did not prepare the reply and that it was her Department that did so.

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Perhaps the Senator might be hitting on a bad-file case. Fundamentally, the Department states it is not the case that carer's benefit claims are routinely reviewed. They may be in some cases. I suggest that the Senator contact the Minister's office regarding the cases in question. I have no doubt the problem will be rectified. I will raise the point with the Minister. It would make no sense and involve a massive workload for the Department if all the information had to be refurnished after 12 months. It is really about cutting back on the paper trail. The objective of the Government is to remove the red tape associated with obtaining entitlements. I will pass on the Senator's view to the Minister and seek clarification on the particular question asked.