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.

I confirm that my Department received an application for Carer's Allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 25 October 2022.

One of the qualifying conditions is that the means of the person concerned must be less than the statutory limit which is €320.10 per week.  Additional information in relation to the applicant’s finances was requested on 2 November 2022.  A reply to this information request was received on 12 November 2022. In respect of the relevant period, the person concerned was assessed with means of €512.33.  It was determined that the means of the person concerned were not less than the statutory limit and that they were therefore not entitled to CA.

The person concerned was notified on 23 November 2022 of this decision, the reason for it and of their right of appeal to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.

Carer's benefit is a payment made to insured people who may be required to leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a person in need of full time care.  A person must satisfy various criteria for the scheme including having made sufficient PRSI contributions.  A person must have made a total of 156 qualifying PRSI contributions since they started work.  They must also have made 39 contributions paid in the second last complete tax year OR 39 contributions paid within the last 12 months OR 26 contributions paid in the second last complete tax year and 26 contributions paid in the year before that.  The person concerned does not satisfy the PRSI conditions for carer's benefit as they have insufficient contributions since 2016.

If the person concerned is experiencing financial difficulties, they can contact their local Intreo Centre where they may apply for a payment under the Department’s Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, subject to satisfying the relevant qualification criteria.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.