John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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114. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will be granted payment for carer's allowance; the amount of arrears due and the payment date; if the respite grant will be back-dated; and if the household package will be approved and back-dated. [50000/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I can confirm that Carer’s allowance was stopped from 24^th October 2012 in respect of the person in question as, following a review, it was decided that the medical criteria were no longer satisfied. In order for a child under 16 years to be deemed eligible for carer's allowance, domiciliary care allowance must be in payment for that child. In those circumstances, the child is deemed to be automatically medically eligible for carer’s allowance. Once the child reaches 16 years and is no longer entitled to domiciliary care allowance, a review of the continuing entitlement to carer’s allowance is carried out.

The person concerned sought a review of this decision and submitted additional medical evidence on the 2^nd November 2012 and on the 5^th February 2013. Following each review it was found that the person being cared for was not so invalided or disabled as to require full time care and attention. Her file and papers were forwarded to the Social Welfare Appeals Office for determination, and an Appeal Officer decided to allow the appeal on the 11^th November 2013.

Her claim is currently with a Deciding Officer who has approved the claim for payment to commence on the 28^th November 2013 and is awaiting notification of the amounts paid in relation to previous Social Welfare Payments before a calculation of arrears can be done. Backdating of the Respite Care Grant will be payable as part of these arrears. The Household Package will also be backdated and arrears will be issued by that Office.