Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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186. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a decision has been made on a carer’s support grant appeal in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26117/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Carer's Support Grant is an annual payment made to carers by my Department.

I can confirm that my department received an application for the Carer’s Support Grant (CSG) for 2018 from the person concerned on 13 March 2020.

It is a condition of the Carers Support Grant that a person may apply for the grant in any given year from 8 weeks before the date on which the grant is payable up to the 31 of December the following year.

The person concerned was notified on 31 March 2020 that her application for 2018 was disallowed on the grounds that is was a late claim.

My department was notified on 8 June 2020 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 8 June 2020.

On 14 September the SWAO notified the person concerned that her appeal was disallowed.

Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of an Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed in the light of relevant additional evidence or new facts.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.