Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael)
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544. To ask the Minister for Social Protection to consider a person who is receipt of a State pension and a carer's allowance for a full rate of payment under the carer's allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10334/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Carer's Allowance (CA) is a social assistance payment made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to people with disabilities who require full-time care and attention and whose income falls below certain limits.

When an applicant is getting certain social welfare payments and providing full-time care and attention to another person, they can keep their main social welfare payment and get a half-rate CA as well.

The person concerned was awarded a State Pension contributory from 15August 1997 and is currently in receipt of €243.30 weekly. In line with legislation, when CA was awarded to her from 25 June 2015, it was awarded at the half-rate of €126.00 weekly in addition to her State Pension.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.