Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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129. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied). [40231/16]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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An application for domiciliary care allowance was received from this lady on the 16th July 2015. This application satisfied the qualifying conditions for the allowance and a letter issued on the 16th October 2015 advising of the decision to award the allowance from 1st August 2015, the month following receipt of the application, as per the relevant legislation.

A review of the decision to award from 1st August 2015 was requested on 18th November 2015. 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. Following this review the lady was notified on the 22nd December 2015 that the original decision was upheld.

A further review of the decision to award from 1st August 2015 was requested on 13th October 2016. Following this review the lady was notified on the 16th November 2016 that the original decision was upheld. If she considers that there is good cause for the delay in making her claim and wishes to have the backdating of payment further considered, she should submit additional information and ask to have the decision reviewed, and/or she may appeal the decision directly to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. There is currently no appeal registered with the Social Welfare Appeals Office.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.