Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

897. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration will be given to backdating arrears of carer’s allowance six months prior to date of application in the case of a person (details supplied) in view of Covid-19 and delay in submitting an application arising from same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33006/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.

I confirm that my Department received an application for CA from the person concerned on 16 September 2020.

Additional information in relation to the person’s financial information was requested by a Deciding Officer (DO) on 22 September 2020. A response to this information request was received on 29 September 2020. Subsequent to this, further information was requested in relation to the person’s financial information on 6 October 2020. A response to this information request was received on 13 October 2020.

Following receipt of this information the application was awarded to the person concerned on 15 October 2020 with effect from 17 September 2020. The first payment issued to her nominated bank account on 22 October 2020.

Arrears of allowance due from 17 September 2020 to 21 October 2020 issued on 15 October 2020.

The person concerned was notified on 15 October 2020 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.

On 20 October 2020 the person concerned requested that the award date of her CA be backdated by six months.

Following a review, the award date was backdated by six months to 19 March 2020.

The person concerned was notified on 27 October 2020 of this decision and of her right of review and appeal.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy