Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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200. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5235/17]

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 4 November 2016.

The application was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) to assess the level of care being provided, composition of the household, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied. Additional information was also requested from the person concerned on 3 January 2017.

Once this information is received and the SWI has reported, a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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201. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5238/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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An application for carer's allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 3 November 2016.

CA is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has a disability such that they require that level of care.

A person can be considered to be providing full-time care and attention where they are engaged in employment, self-employment or on training courses outside the home for a maximum of 15 hours per week, provided that they can show to the satisfaction of a deciding officer that adequate care has been provided for the care recipient in their absence.

As the applicant is self-employed the matter was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) on 15 December 2016 to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied.

Once the SWI has reported, a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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202. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5239/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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An application for carer's allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 29 November 2016.

CA is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has a disability such that they require that level of care.

A person can be considered to be providing full-time care and attention where they are engaged in employment, self-employment or on training courses outside the home for a maximum of 15 hours per week, provided that they can show to the satisfaction of a deciding officer that adequate care has been provided for the care recipient in their absence.

As the applicant is self-employed the matter was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) on 12 January 2017 to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied.

As the care recipient has since passed away, the referral will be cancelled and a decision will be made shortly and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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203. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5240/17]

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 in question on 26 October 2016. It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have a disability whose effect is that they require full-time care and attention.

This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continuous supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself.

The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the deciding officer decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied.

The person concerned was notified on 24 January 2017 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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204. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5241/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that appeals by the person concerned were referred to an Appeals Officer on 24 January 2017, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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205. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5242/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 10 January 2017, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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206. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5243/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to hold an oral hearing in this case on 23 February 2017. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the hearing.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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207. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5244/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to hold an oral hearing in this case on 8 February 2017. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the hearing.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

I trust this clarifies the matte for the Deputy.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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208. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5245/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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An application for carer's allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 31 August 2015.

As a result of an appeals officer’s decision CA was awarded to the person concerned on 26 January 2017 and the first payment will issue to her nominated post office on 2 February 2017. Arrears for the period 3 September 2015 to 1 February 2017 will issue shortly.

The person concerned was notified on 26 January 2017 of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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209. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5246/17]

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 11 May 2016. It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have a disability whose effect is that they require full-time care and attention.

This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continuous supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself and likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months.

The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the deciding officer decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied.

The person concerned was notified on 18 July 2016 of this decision, the reason for it and of his right of review and appeal.

The person concerned requested a review of this decision and submitted additional evidence in support of his application. Following this review the decision remained unchanged.

The person concerned was notified on 25 January 2017 of the outcome and of his right of appeal.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.