Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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297. To ask the Minister for Social Protection why he has refused a person's (details supplied) request to have a carer's allowance payment backdated to the date that the caring commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16997/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 15 May 2015. The application was awarded from 21 May 2015 which was the first Thursday after the date of receipt of the application.

The person concerned requested a review of the date of award of this decision but no grounds for the request were submitted. A deciding officer (DO) refused this request for back-dating and the person in question was notified of this decision on 4 April 2016.

In order for back-dating to be considered, it is important for an applicant to supply the DO with the reasons for the late submission of their CA application and the grounds upon which they wish the application to be back-dated. If the person in question wishes the decision on back-dating of his CA application to be reviewed by the Department, he should submit as soon as possible the reasons and grounds for the late submission of his application for CA so a DO may reconsider the back-dating request.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy .