Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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478. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason her Department will not accept a form 11 self-assessment from the Revenue Commissioners in respect of a carer's allowance review for a person ( details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40739/18]

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 child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.

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

In this case the means of the person concerned are being reviewed.

Means are any income belonging to the carer and their spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant, property, (except their own home) or an asset that could bring in money or provide them with an income, for example occupational pensions, or pensions or benefits from another country.

It is a condition for receipt of CA that every claimant shall furnish such certificates, documents, information and evidence as may be required for the purposes of deciding the claim and attends at such office or place as an officer may direct.

As the person concerned failed to satisfy to an officer of my Department as to the expenses incurred, authenticated profit and loss accounts were requested. To date the person concerned has not furnished these accounts.

The Revenue Form 11 is used for determining tax liability and is not suitable for the purpose of establishing means in respect of a social welfare payment.

The review is on-going and once complete, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.