James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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586. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if approval of a carer's allowance claim by a person (details supplied) will be considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11438/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My department received an application for CA from the person concerned on the 13 February 2018.

Carer's allowance is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care.

However, as the person concerned has left her employment to provide care to her mother, it would appear that carer's benefit (CARB) is the more appropriate scheme for her to apply for.

CARB is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce to care for a person(s) in need of full-time care and attention.

In addition, the person concerned may have an entitlement to carer’s leave. This allows employees to leave their employment temporarily to provide full-time care for someone in need of full-time care and attention. They are entitled to take carer’s leave of at least 13 weeks up to a maximum of 104 weeks.

To determine her entitlement to CARB, the person concerned needs to complete the CARB1 application form that has issued to her.

On receipt of a fully completed application form, her entitlement to carer’s benefit will be examined.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.