Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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507. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Cork, whose illness benefit claim was awarded some weeks ago will receive payment in respect of same. [11155/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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There was a delay in processing the Illness Benefit claim from the person concerned as the claim had not been submitted within the required timeframe.

Following a review of the particular circumstances involved, a decision was made to award the claim from the date of the commencement of the absence and a payment of €4,804.34 has been issued.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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508. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress that has been made to date in the determination of an appeal against a decision to stop a carer's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11158/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I am advised that an application for carer's allowance by the person concerned was disallowed by a Deciding Officer of the Department on 11 March 2021.  The person concerned sought a review of the decision on 25 March 2021 and was informed by the Department on 14 April 2021 that, on the basis of the review, the decision was not being revised. 

In the normal course, an appeal against the decision of a Deciding Officer must be made within 21 days of a decision being notified. Appeals received outside of this time limit may be accepted at the discretion of the Chief Appeals Officer if the particular circumstances underlying any delay merit such an exception being made.  I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that, based on the circumstances of this case, an appeal is not being accepted at this late stage.

If the person's means are insufficient to meet their needs, it is open to them to apply for supplementary welfare allowance. 

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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509. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the eligibility of a person (details supplied) for the jobseeker’s benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11252/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Currently the person concerned has not made a claim for Jobseekers Benefit or Assistance, or for any of the Illness Schemes offered by the Department. 

In order to be eligible for Jobseekers Benefit or Allowance a person must be involuntarily unemployed, must be capable of work, must be available for full time work and must be genuinely seeking work.

In this case, as the person concerned has declared that he would be unemployed due to ill health, he would not be eligible for a Jobseekers Payment. 

Again based on the information supplied that the person concerned needs to retire on health grounds he may have an entitlement to Illness Benefit, Invalidity Pension or Disability Allowance.  The full range of schemes operated by the Department are accessible at www.gov.ie/welfare

Alternatively the person concerned may contact his local Intreo Centre for further advice and information on services available to him in this regard.