James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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267. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will examine the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61435/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned is currently in receipt of a State Pension Contributory payment at the maximum weekly rate of €253.30 per week. 

Carer's Allowance is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care.  An official in my Department wrote to the person concerned requesting supporting documentation to determine ongoing eligibility, if any, to the half-rate Carers allowance. The payment was suspended on 29 August 2022 as the person failed to submit the requested documentation.

Disability Allowance is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. The spouse of the person concerned was in receipt of Disability Allowance up until their 66 birthday, 28 May 2022.

The State Pension non-contributory is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 or over. The spouse of the person concerned applied for the State Pension non-contributory on 19 April 2022. The case was referred to a Social Welfare Inspector to investigate the means so that their eligibility for the means-tested pension could be assessed.   As the means were not disclosed to the inspector, the claim was disallowed. A decision letter issued on 27 July 2022 outlining the reasons for the decision and their right, if dissatisfied with the decision, to request a review of the decision, or to appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office. 

An Increase for Qualified Adult is a means-tested payment, payable to a State pension (contributory) claimants whose spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is being wholly or mainly maintained by them, and where that qualified adult’s personal means from any source does not exceed a means test income limit.  Where a qualified adult has weekly means of less than €100, the maximum rate is payable. 

The spouse of the person concerned applied for the Increase for a Qualified Adult on their spouses State Pension (contributory) payment on 22 September 2022.  The payment was awarded from 16 September 2022 at the maximum weekly rate of €227.00 per week which is approximately 90% of the maximum rate of State pension (contributory). A decision letter issued to them on 08 October 2022.

My Department has no record of an application for the State Pension (contributory) from the spouse of the person concerned. I have arranged for an application to issue. On receipt of the completed application their entitlement will be examined, and they will be notified of the outcome in writing.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.