Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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720. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of carer's allowance reviews carried out in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form. [26798/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Carer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested payment, made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that they require that level of care. An increased payment can be made where full-time care is being provided to two people.

Before a decision can be made on entitlement to CA, evidence must be provided in respect of the carer’s habitual residence in the State, the level of care they provide, their means and also that the person being cared for has such a disability that they require full-time care and attention.

Carer's allowance reviews take place in a number of circumstance as follows:-

- If the decision on a new claim is negative the customer has the option of a review.

- Once claims are in payment, my Department undertakes periodically reviews to ensure that there is continued entitlement.

- A customer can at any stage request a review of their entitlement

I am advised by my Department that there are no statistics available on the number of carer's allowance reviews carried out each year.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.