Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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1093. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a half-rate carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45175/19]

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 27 August 2019.

Additional information in relation to the person’s application was requested by a deciding officer on 30 October 2019.

Once the information is received the application will be processed without delay and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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1094. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when payment and arrears will issue in relation to a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45183/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My Department received an application for Carer’s Allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 4 January 2019.

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.

It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have such disability that they require full-time care and attention.

This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continual supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself and likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months.

The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the deciding officer decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied.

The person concerned was notified on 11 March 2019 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.

The person concerned requested a review of this decision and submitted additional evidence in support of her application.

The outcome of the review was that the decision still stood. The person concerned was notified of the outcome on 24 April 2019, the reason for it and of her right of appeal.

My Department was notified that the person concerned had appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) and a submission was prepared and forwarded to the SWAO on 30 July 2019.

As a result of an Appeals Officer’s decision, CA was awarded to the person concerned on 30 October 2019 with effect from 10 January 2019. The first payment will issue to her nominated bank account on 7 November 2019.

Arrears for the period 10 January 2019 to 6 November 2019 will issue to her nominated bank account on the same date, 7 November 2019.

The person concerned was notified of this on the 30 October 2019.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.