James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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38. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on whether in cases in which one parent is in receipt of carer's allowance for a child and then passes away, the system should allow for an automatic or at least smoother transfer to the surviving parent rather than requiring a new application, which brings additional stresses in addition to financial difficulties at an already very difficult time for the bereaved family; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39444/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the difficulties experienced by carers and their families especially in sad circumstances such as the loss of a family carer through bereavement. There is already provision within legislation for the continuation of payment of carer’s benefit and carer’s allowance for a period of six or twelve weeks respectively, following the death of a spouse, civil partner or co-habitant who has been in receipt of these payments in their own right. This provides for a period of financial certainty following bereavement and for a grace period during which a new claim can be made and processed. Carer’s benefit and carer’s allowance are statutory schemes and if the surviving parent is to provide care, they must, in accordance with legislation, make an individual application for the appropriate payment. In relation to the possible entitlement of the surviving parent, their circumstances need to be examined to ensure that they meet the legislative criteria for either scheme.

This includes an assessment of the insurance record of the surviving parent in the case of carer’s benefit and a means assessment in the case of carer’s allowance. In circumstances such as those described by the Deputy, sufficient medical evidence regarding the full-time care requirement of the care recipient would already be available, reducing the time taken to process the application.

Carers can continue to work, should their personal circumstances permit, for up to a maximum of 15 hours per week and still be regarded as providing full-time care and attention to a care recipient. This serves to maintain an attachment to the workforce and to ameliorate the risk of social isolation which a carer may experience in their caring role.