Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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248. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay; and when a decision will be made on the application. [22774/17]

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 29 March 2017. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. In the meantime, both the person concerned and his spouse are in receipt of a weekly social welfare support.

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.

Schemes that require a high level of documentary evidence from the customer, particularly in the case of disability and caring schemes, can take longer to process. Similarly, means-tested payments also require more detailed investigation and interaction with the applicant, thereby lengthening the decision making process.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.