Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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370. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of cases of carer’s allowance under review; the number of reviews commenced, per quarter, in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43237/20]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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372. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of cases of disability allowance under review; the number of reviews commenced, per quarter, in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43239/20]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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373. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of cases of invalidity pension under review; the number of reviews commenced, per quarter, in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43240/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 370, 372 and 373 together.

The information requested by the Deputy in respect of the number of Carer's Allowance, Disability Allowance and Invalidity Pension cases under review and the number of reviews commenced per quarter in 2020 is not available in my Department

Reviews of claims in my Department take place in a number of circumstances as follows:-

- If the decision on a new claim is negative, the customer has the option of a review.

- Once claims are in payment, my Department undertakes periodic control reviews to ensure that there is continued entitlement.

- A customer can at any stage request a review of their entitlement

As outlined above, a wide range of reviews are carried out arising from customer requests, together with reviews undertaken by the Department.

While information on the number of reviews currently underway or when the reviews commenced is not collated by the Department, I can advise the Deputy of the number of control reviews completed up to the end of November 2020:

- 3,809 for Carers Allowance

- 7,834 for Disability Allowance

- 1,349 for Invalidity Pension

I am also advised that while the Department records the number of control reviews undertaken and the saving achieved it does not keep a record of the number of customers who receive increases, decreases or whose rate of payment remains unchanged.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.