Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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1878. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an appeal of a refusal to grant carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38265/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Iam advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence including that adduced at the oral hearing, has decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and 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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1879. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an appeal of a refusal to grant carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38266/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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An application for carer's allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 13 February 2017.

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.

It has been decided that this condition has not been satisfied. It has also been decided that although the person concerned is providing a certain amount of care, the level provided is not considered to be full-time.

The person concerned was notified on 12 July 2017 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal.

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

The person concerned was notified on 7 September 2017 of the outcome of the review, the reasons for it and of her right of appeal.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.