Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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774. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a first payment will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29363/19]

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.

A 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 application for CA was disallowed on the grounds that the person concerned was found to be working outside the home for more than 15 hours per week.

The person concerned was notified on 11 October 2018 of this decision, the reason for it and of his right of review and appeal.

The Department was notified that the person concerned had appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO).  A submission in support of the decision was forwarded to the SWAO on 28 January 2019. 

As a result of an appeals officer’s decision CA was awarded to the person concerned on 4 July 2019 with effect from 30 August 2018. The first payment will issue to his nominated bank account on 11 July 2019.

Arrears of allowance for the period 30 August 2018 to 10 July 2019 will issue shortly. 

The person concerned was notified of this outcome on 4 July 2019.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.