Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

578. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a decision has been made on the review of the decision on an application for carer’s allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13929/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 21 December 2021.

It is a condition for receipt of a social welfare payment that every applicant is required to furnish a deciding officer with such certificates, documents, information, and evidence as may be required for the purpose of deciding a claim.

The person concerned did not provide such certificates, documents information or evidence that was requested from them. A decision was made to disallow the application for CA on 8 February 2022 as the means of the person concerned could not be determined. 

The person concerned was notified of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.

The person concerned requested a review of this decision on 2 March 2022.

The review is currently being processed and a request for additional information issued on 08 March 2022 to the person concerned in relation to her means.

Once the required information has been received, a decision will be made without delay and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

579. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if contact will be made with a person (details supplied) with a view to providing weekly social welfare assistance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13971/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.

This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continual supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself and likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months.

I confirm that my department received an application for CA from the person concerned on 24 September 2021. 

It is a condition for receipt of a social welfare payment that every applicant is required to furnish a deciding officer with such certificates, documents, information, and evidence as may be required for the purpose of deciding a claim.

A request for further information on habitual residence was issued to the person concerned on 14 October 2021.

The person concerned did not provide documents that were requested in relation to habitual residence and therefore the habitual residence condition could not be determined. In addition it was decided that person concerned was not providing full-time care and attention and that the evidence provided did not establish that the person being cared for required full-time care and attention.

A decision was made to disallow the application for CA as the eligibility of the person concerned could not be determined. 

The person concerned was notified on 17 November 2021 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.

A copy of both the information request of  14 October 2021 and the decision letter of 17 November 2021 were re-issued to the person concerned on 8 December 2021 as they contacted the Department and said they had not received any correspondence.

The Department has not received any further correspondence from the person concerned to date.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.