Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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1150. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which entitlement to carer’s allowance in respect of two children has been determined in a case (details supplied); when such a determination was made; if the matter will be fully reviewed in an effort to ascertain when payment will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3084/20]

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.

The person concerned was in receipt of CA for one care recipient only. This payment was in place from 22 May 2014 until it was stopped on 13 February 2019.

During the course of a review of entitlement to CA, it was determined that the person concerned had not notified the Department of changes in their financial circumstances. When Department officials requested documentation pertaining to these changes, the person concerned failed to supply them.

On 13 November 2018, the person concerned was notified that their entitlement to CA from 22 May 2014 to date was under review and that should a Deciding Officer decide that she was not entitled to CA during that period or that she was entitled to lower rates than was paid, she would be liable to refund any monies paid to which she was not entitled. She was offered the opportunity to furnish any statement or evidence she felt was appropriate to the matter.

On 7 February 2019, a Deciding Officer reviewed all the evidence and decided that the person concerned was no longer entitled to CA as she had failed to show that her means were not less than the statutory limit and had failed to supply documentation that was requested from her. In addition it was decided that she was not entitled to CA from 1 December 2016 to 13 February 2019 for the same reasons.

As a result, it was further decided that she had been overpaid an amount of money which she is liable to refund to the Department.

The person concerned was notified on 7 February 2019 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.