Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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477. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20484/19]

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.

An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 4 December 2018.

It is a condition for receipt of CA that the person being cared for must require full-time care and attention and it is a further condition that the person can be considered to be providing full-time care and attention where they are engaged in employment, self-employment or on training 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.

The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the deciding officer decided that this evidence did not indicate that either of these conditions was satisfied.

The person concerned was notified on 28 February 2019 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.

The department were notified on 13 March 2019 that the person concerned requested a review of this decision and submitted additional evidence in support of her application.

Following this review carer's allowance was awarded to the person concerned on 8 May 2019 with effect from 9 May 2019. The first payment will issue to her nominated bank account on 16 May 2019.

Arrears of allowance due from 9 May 2019 to 15 May 2019 will also issue.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.