Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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250. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application for a full rate of carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6075/19]

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.

The person concerned has been in receipt of CA at half-rate since 21 June 2018 as she was also in receipt of an Illness Benefit (IB) payment from this Department.

She has requested a re-assessment of her CA entitlement from half rate to full rate as she has ceased to claim IB. However, she was employed before she went on sick leave and information regarding he current employment status is now being sought.

A person can be considered to be providing full-time care and attention where they are engaged in employment, self-employment or on training or education courses outside the home for a maximum of 15 hours per week, provided that they can show to the satisfaction of a deciding officer that adequate care has been provided for the care recipient in their absence.

Additional information was requested from the person concerned on 5 February 2019. Once the information is received the application will be processed without delay and she will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.