Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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208. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will change from their current social welfare payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47198/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm that the person concerned is currently in receipt of carer’s allowance (CA) at the weekly rate of €209.00. From 30 November 2017 this rate is set to increase to €247.00 weekly as he will have reached State pension age.

However, I note that the person concerned has made an application for state pension contributory (SPC).

Normally two social welfare income supports are not payable at the same time. However, CA can be paid at the same time as another social welfare payment. When a person is in receipt of a social welfare payment (other than jobseeker payments or supplementary welfare allowance) or is being claimed as a qualified adult on their spouse’s, civil partner’s or cohabitant’s social welfare payment, and also qualifies for CA, the allowance is paid at up to half the normal rate.

In this case, for example, if the person concerned is awarded SPC, he will be paid CA at the weekly rate of €123.50 in addition to their SPC.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.