Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

398. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has been refused carers allowance; the reason her Department considers the applicant not to be providing full-time care for her mother; and if she will also clarify the situation with regard to the means test applied and if means had been reduced just below the threshold level of carers allowance payment that could be received; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9576/23]

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 Carer's Allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 16 January 2023.

It is a condition for receipt of Carer's Allowance (CA) that the person concerned must be providing full-time care and attention.

The legislation states that a carer must be regarded as providing full-time care and attention to a relevant person, where the number of hours providing such care is not less than 35 hours in a period of 7 consecutive days, and care is provided on any 5 days, whether consecutive or not, within a period of 7 consecutive days.

It has been decided that this condition has not been satisfied. Although the person concerned is providing a certain amount of care, the level provided is not considered to be full-time.

Another qualifying condition is that the means of the person concerned were more than the statutory limit of €325.10. The weekly means of the person concerned were assessed at €349.73 and they were therefore not entitled to Carer's Allowance (CA) on this basis also.

In summary, the Deciding Officer decided that the evidence received did not indicate that either of the conditions mentioned above were satisfied.

The person concerned was notified on 15 February 2023 of this decision, the reason for it and of their right of review and appeal.

However, if there is a change in circumstances, the claim can be reconsidered.

Our records show that to this date, we have not received a request for review or appeal.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.