Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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226. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a domiciliary care allowance award in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be backdated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38402/16]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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An application for domiciliary care allowance was received from this lady on the 21st July 2016. This application satisfied the qualifying conditions for the allowance and a letter issued on the 9th November 2016 advising of the decision to award the allowance from 1st August 2016, the month following receipt of the application, as per the relevant legislation. In order for backdating to be considered, it is required that good cause for the delay in submitting the application is shown. Where good cause is demonstrated, the application can be backdated by a maximum of 6 months. If this lady considers that there is good cause for the delay in making her claim and wishes to have the backdating of payment considered, she should submit additional information and ask to have the decision reviewed, or she may appeal the decision directly to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.