Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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352. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps she will take to ensure an application for a carer’s allowance by a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44478/18]

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.

I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s CA from the person concerned on 23 February 2018.

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 provide documents regarding her employment, the deciding officer decided that the person concerned was not entitled to CA. The person concerned was notified on 26 July 2018 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal. The person concerned requested a review of that decision on 3 August 2018. The outcome of the review is that CA was awarded to the person concerned on 23 October 2018 and the first payment will issue to her nominated bank account on 8 November 2018. Arrears of allowance due from 1 March 2018 to 9 November 2018 will issue shortly. The person concerned was notified on 23 October 2018 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.