Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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282. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if and when the recent refusal of carer's allowance will be reversed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6245/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Carer’s allowance was stopped on 20th November 2013 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 of age and entitlement to domiciliary care allowance ceases, a review of the continuing entitlement to carer’s allowance is undertaken as medical eligibility is no longer automatically satisfied and must be confirmed.

The decision to disallow carer’s allowance was recently reviewed by a deciding officer, following submission of additional medical evidence by the person in question. However, the deciding officer was satisfied that the original decision to disallow the allowance was still valid. The person in question was notified of the outcome of this review on the 24th of January 2014 and of her right to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.