Written answers
Tuesday, 16 November 2021
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Social Welfare Eligibility
Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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389. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if whether a person is in receipt of incapacitated child tax credit is taken into consideration during assessment of an application for domiciliary care allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55784/21]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Eligibility to Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is based on a child having a severe disability that requires ongoing care and attention substantially over and above the care and attention usually required by a child of the same age and is likely to last for at least one year. It is payable in respect of children aged under 16 years and is not means tested.
Incapacitated child tax credit (ICTC), which is administered by the Revenue Commissioners, is allowable if it is considered that a child is permanently incapacitated by reason of mental or physical infirmity such that there would be a reasonable expectation that if the child were over the age of 18 years the child would not be able to support themselves by earning an income from working.
Given the different assessment criteria that apply for DCA and ICTC, it is not considered appropriate to factor Incapacitated tax credit into the DCA assessment process.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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390. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason persons aged over 65 years who would otherwise be entitled to benefit payment are not able to claim the payment along with the half-rate carer’s allowance. [55788/21]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Benefit Payment for 65 year olds was introduced in early 2021 in line with the Programme for Government commitment, to address the position of people who are 65 who are required to or who choose to retire at age 65 but who do not qualify for the State Pension until they reach age 66.
The underlying statutory basis of this benefit is provided for under Jobseeker's Benefit. However, recipients of the Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds are not required to be available for full-time work or genuinely seeking work and they are not be required to sign on the Live Register. Recipients are exempt from participating in activation unless they choose to engage and can also participate in a course of education while retaining their full payment entitlement.
The objectives of the Jobseeker schemes and Carers schemes are not compatible. The primary objective of the Carer’s Allowance payment is to provide an income support to carers whose earning capacity is substantially reduced as a consequence of their caring responsibilities and in so doing to support the ongoing care of the person in respect of whom care is being provided.
The payment of the Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds and half-rate carers is not permitted under the legislative provisions in place.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
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