Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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360. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Donegal was refused carer's allowance for their parent on medical grounds when their parent successfully qualified for carer's last year and their sibling had been in receipt of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3538/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The carer’s allowance application, by the person concerned, was disallowed by a Deciding Officer following an assessment by a Medical Assessor of the Department who was of the opinion that the person being cared for is not so invalided or disabled as to require full-time care and attention as laid down in carer’s allowance legislation.

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an oral hearing of the appeal of the person concerned took place on 21 January 2014 and that the Appeals Officer is now considering the appeal in the light of all of the evidence submitted, including that adduced at the oral hearing. The person concerned will be notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision when the appeal has been determined.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.