Written answers

Tuesday, 31 March 2015

Department of Social Protection

Carer's Allowance Delays

Photo of Sandra McLellanSandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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235. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the length of time reviews for carer's allowance are currently taking; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13209/15]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Department does not maintain statistics in relation to the average time taken to process carer’s allowance (CA) decision reviews. The Department is committed to ensuring that claims and reviews are processed as expeditiously as possible. Reviews in relation to eligibility or continued eligibility for CA are dealt with on a case by case basis based upon the individual circumstances of each applicant or recipient, relevant to the various qualifying conditions associated with CA.

Applicants and recipients are encouraged to provide complete and comprehensive information in support of their eligibility initially facilitating the Department’s deciding officers (DOs) to make good quality and timely decisions.

The current average time taken to make a decision on a new application is 12 weeks. Where an applicant receives a negative decision on a new application and sends in additional information requesting a review of that decision, this will take significantly longer. Where there is information missing or should the deciding officer consider it necessary to request additional information and/or send file to a Social Welfare Inspector for a report on means or circumstances, this can also add to the length of time taken to process both new applications or reviews.

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