Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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476. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made regarding a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied) that is ongoing since January 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48716/19]

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.

My department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 9 August 2019.

The application was awarded to the person concerned on 20 November 2019 and the first payment will issue to her nominated Post Office on 28 November 2019.

Arrears of allowance due from 15 August 2019 to 20 November 2019 will issue shortly.

The person concerned also applied for her payment to be backdated to the date from which domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was awarded in respect of her son. DCA was awarded on 5 November 2018, backdated to 1 November 2017. I am advised that this request was disallowed as she had not applied for CA within the 6 month allowable timeframe from the date which DCA was awarded from.

The person concerned was notified on 20 November 2019 of these decisions, the reason for them and of her right of review and appeal.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.