Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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1148. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the detailed basis on which overpayment has been assessed in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30780/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Jobseeker's Allowance (JA) is a means-tested payment made to people who are unemployed and meet all of the qualifying conditions.

According to the records of my Department, the person concerned was awarded JA from 16/07/2010. 

An official in my Department wrote to the person concerned on 10/02/2020 in relation to a review of her entitlement to JA, requesting additional information in order to complete this review.  According to the records of my Department, the person concerned did not provide the information requested.

Further correspondence issued on 28/05/2020 in which the person concerned was asked to provide end of year payslips from 2014 to 2019 from her spouses’ employment and a current payslip from her spouses’ employment in 2020.  The requested documentation was not provided by the person concerned.  Therefore, on the basis of the information available to my Department, a revised decision and assessment of an overpayment of €31,146 was subsequently issued to the person concerned on the 18/06/2020.

The person concerned was advised that she was not entitled to JA from 22/09/2014 to 04/02/2020 on the grounds that JA is not paid if a person’s means are more than the weekly rate of JA that would be payable to them based on their family circumstances.  The Deciding Officer made this decision on the basis that the person had not shown that her means were less than the weekly rate of JA appropriate to her family circumstances as she had failed to provide the requested information in the review of her JA claim.

The person concerned was advised of her right to request a review of this decision and/or appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office outlining the grounds for her appeal and including any facts or evidence in support of her case.  The SWAO has advised that no appeal was registered for the person concerned.

Following your representation, I have requested that a review of this case be undertaken.  It is important however that the person concerned engages with my officials in the review of the overpayment and provides any requested information.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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1149. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if domiciliary care allowance will be awarded to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30813/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Domciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly payment in respect of a child, aged under 16 with a severe disability who requires continual or continuous care and attention substantially over and above the care and attention usually required by a child of the same age.  The child must be likely to require fulltime care and attention for at least 12 months.  Eligibility is determined on the additional care required by the child rather than the particular disability.

An application for DCA in respect of their child Brody was received from the person concerned on 04 April 2022.  Their application was disallowed as per Department's decision dated 28 May 2022, as the child was not considered to satisfy the qualifying conditions for DCA.

The person concerned was notified in writing of the details of this decision on 28 May 2022 and of their right of review and appeal to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). 

If seeking a review or appeal of the above decision, the person concerned should forward any new or additional information, or further documentary evidence (medical reports) for consideration.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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1150. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of application for carer's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); if the application will be expedited given the terminally-ill health circumstances of their father for whom they care; if they will qualify for a carer's support grant in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30815/22]

Heather 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.

I confirm that my department received an application for Carer’s Allowance from the person concerned on 3 June 2022.  Additional information in relation to the person’s application was requested by a deciding officer on 9 June 2022.

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

It is not possible to confirm the automatic entitlement of the person concerned to the Carer's Support Grant until a decision can be made on the CA application.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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1151. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason that a carer’s allowance award in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry has not been backdated to the date that their carer’s benefit expired given that the person was not notified that their carer’s benefit was due to expire; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30845/22]

Heather 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.

I confirm that an application for CA was received from the person concerned on 20 April 2022.

The person concerned was awarded CA on 1 June 2022 with effect from 21 April 2022.

Following a review of the date of award the person concerned was awarded CA with effect from 3 March 2022.

The person concerned was notified in writing of the outcome of this review on 9 June 2022 and of their right of review and appeal.

Arrears due from 3 March 2022 to 20 April 2022 has now issued to their nominated bank account.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.