Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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211. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason for the three month delay in sending the carer’s allowance application file of a person (details supplied) to the Social Welfare Appeals Office upon request in early November 2018; the average time it takes to forward carer's allowance application files from the date requested by the Social Welfare Appeals Office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9905/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Where a person is unhappy with the decision of one of the Department's Deciding Officers, they can appeal that decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO).

As part of the appeal process all evidence submitted is reviewed by a different Deciding Officer to see if a revised decision is warranted. This can take some time in the case of carer's allowance (CA) applications, primarily due to the nature of the scheme but also in cases where additional medical evidence has been submitted in support of the appeal.

Where the original decision is confirmed, a submission is prepared to explain the Deciding Officer's decisions and this submission is forwarded to the SWAO.

At all times every effort is made to complete reviews and ensure, where necessary, that appeals proceed as quickly as possible.

In the case mentioned by the Deputy, the evidence submitted in support of the application was examined and the deciding officer decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full time care and attention was satisfied. The person concerned appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) and submitted additional information in support of same.

The evidence was reviewed and the outcome of that review was that an appeal is not required as it was decided that the requirement for full-time care and attention was satisfied.

Carer's allowance was awarded to the person concerned on 25 February 2019 and the first payment will issue to their nominated bank account/post office on 7 March 2019

Arrears of allowance due from 2 August 2018 to 25 February 2019 will also issue on 7 March 2019.

The person concerned was notified on 25 February 2019 of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.