John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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203. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if matters relating to the case of a person (details supplied) will be addressed. [14636/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Carer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment while Carer's benefit (CARB) is a social insurance payment made to full-time employees who leave the workforce.

The person concerned was in receipt of CA from 28 June 2007 to 18 October 2017 in respect of her daughter at a reduced rate due to an assessment of her means.

However, following a review of her claim in October 2017, her entitlement to CA ceased, as her means were determined to exceed the statutory limit. She was assessed with means of €334.94 which exceeded the statutory limit of €223.90 at the time.

The person concerned re-applied for CA on 7 December 2017. The application for CA was disallowed as her means were assessed as €323.16 which exceeded the statutory limit of €232.61.

The person concerned was notified on 18 April 2018 of this decision the reason for it and her right of review and appeal.

The person concerned applied for CARB on 16 November 2018. There are a number of qualifying conditions for receipt of CARB including a requirement of having paid a certain amount of PRSI.

Through her employment, this condition has been satisfied.

However, there is a further condition which requires that the applicant must have been engaged in remunerative employment as an employee for at least 16 hours per week in 8 weeks out of the 26 week period immediately before the date from which the claim is intended to commence. This application was disallowed because the person concerned failed to show that she satisfied this condition.

The person concerned was notified on 26 February 2019 of this decision, the reason for it and her right of review and appeal.

The request by the Deputy for a review of CARB is ongoing at present and when complete the person concerned will be notified of the outcome.

Should the means of the person concerned reduce in the future it is always open to the person concerned to re-apply for CA and a deciding officer of my Department will examine her entitlement.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.