Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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268. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20345/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Carer's allowance (CA) 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.

Disability allowance (DA) is a means-tested allowance paid to a person with a disability who is substantially restricted from employment.

It is a condition for receipt of both CA and DA that the person’s means must be less than the statutory limit. It is a further condition for receipt of payment that the recipients must furnish such certificates, documents and information affecting their right to payment, that are requested by an officer of my department and notify the department of any change in circumstances which affect their right to payment.

Once claims are in payment, the Department periodically reviews them to ensure that there is continued entitlement.

During the course of a review of payment of CA and DA to the person concerned, it was discovered that she had not fully disclosed her means to the Department and, to date, has not furnished all the documentation that was requested from her by a social welfare inspector (SWI).

The person concerned was notified on 17 January 2018 that her CA and DA payments were being suspended from 25 January 2018 because of this.

On 5 March 2018 the person concerned was advised that her entitlement to CA for the period from 7 April 2011 to 25 January 2018 had been reviewed and that an overpayment amounting to €47,525.10 had been assessed.

She was also advised that her entitlement to DA for the period from 13 April 2011 to 23 January 2018 had been reviewed and that an overpayment amounting to €71,006.40.10 had been assessed.

She was notified of the reason for these decisions and of her rights of review and appeal.

My Department was notified on 20 March 2018 that the person concerned had appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO).

On foot of this, the matter has been referred back to the SWI for further investigation.

Enquiries by the SWI are continuing. Once the SWI has reported, either the decisions of 5 March 2018 will be revised or a submission in support of the decisions will be prepared and forwarded along with the file to the SWAO for determination.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.