Written answers

Tuesday, 17 November 2020

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Carer's Allowance

Photo of Pádraig O'SullivanPádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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577. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a carer’s allowance appeal by a person (details supplied). [36473/20]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, 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.

I confirm that my Department received an application for CA in respect of two care recipients from the person concerned on 14 February 2020.

Additional information in relation to the full completion of the person’s application form was requested by a Deciding Officer (DO) on 18 February 2020.  A response to this information request was received on 24 February 2020.

The applications were referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) on 18 February 2020 to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of CA were satisfied.

On foot of the SWI report, the DO decided that although the person concerned is providing a certain amount of care, the level involved did not amount to full-time care.  Consequently, both applications for CA were disallowed.

Two decision letters issued to the person concerned on 13 July 2020 notifying her of these decisions, the reasons for them and of her right of review and appeal.  

The person concerned requested a review of both decisions on 20 July 2020 and submitted additional evidence in support of her applications.

Following this review both decisions remained unchanged.

Two 'review no change' letters issued to the person concerned on 4 August 2020 notifying her of the decisions, the reason for them and of her right of appeal.

My Department was notified on 7 September 2020 that the person concerned had appealed the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO), in respect of the first care recipient. My Department was then notified on the 25 September 2020 that she had appealed the decision in respect of the second care recipient. A submission in support of both decisions were forwarded to the SWAO on 1 October 2020. 

On 10 November 2020 my Department was notified that both appeals had been disallowed. 

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

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