Written answers

Thursday, 14 October 2021

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Social Welfare Payments

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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133. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a carer’s allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50206/21]

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.

An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 25 August 2021.

Additional information in relation to the person’s application was requested by a deciding officer on 27 August 2021, some of which was received on 15 September 2021. A further information request regarding her rate of pay and hours of employment issued on 17 September 2021. As the information requested has not been received to date a reminder letter issued on 11 October 2021.

Once this information is received the application will be processed without delay and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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134. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a carer’s allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50207/21]

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.

An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 30 August 2019.

The application was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) on 9 September 2019

It is a condition for receipt of CA that every claimant shall furnish such certificates, documents, information and evidence as may be required. The person concerned failed to provide the SWI with information to determine if her means were below the statutory limit.

As the requested information was not supplied it was decided that the person concerned was not entitled to CA. The application was also disallowed as DCA was not awarded in respect of the care recipient.

The person concerned was notified on 6 March 2020 of these decisions, the reason for them and of her right of review and appeal.

Following the awarding of DCA the person concerned requested a review of this decision on 18 December 2020.

As there were documents outstanding from the original decision, the matter was referred to a SWI on 8 February 2021

The person concerned has submitted some documentation as requested by the SWI. However, some documentation is still outstanding and SWI enquiries are continuing.

Once the SWI has reported, a decision will be made, and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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135. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50211/21]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I confirm that an application from the person concerned for disability allowance (DA) was received by the Department on 8 September 2021.

The processing time for individual DA claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the information they provide in support of their claim.

The application has been referred to a Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) for a report on the person’s means and circumstances. Once the SWI has submitted his/her report to DA section, a decision will be made on the application and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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136. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an invalidity pension review for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50215/21]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.

The Department received a claim for IP for the person concerned on 25 February 2021. The claim was refused on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. Notification of the decision issued to the person concerned on 20 April 2021, informing him of this decision, the reasons for it and of his right of review and appeal.

The person concerned requested an appeal of the decision and submitted additional medical evidence which was reviewed by a deciding officer and the decision to disallow IP was upheld. The file was forwarded to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) for determination and an appeals officer (AO), having taken all available information into account, upheld the department’s decision and disallowed the appeal. The person in question was notified of the decision of the AO on 03 September 2021. The decision of an AO is final and conclusive in the absence of additional relevant evidence not available at the time of the appeal. It is open to the person concerned to submit a new application for IP.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

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