Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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152. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an appeal for an exceptional needs’ payment will be processed for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11686/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the exceptional needs payment scheme is administrative in nature and does not have a right of appeal to the Chief Appeals Officer. Any enquiries on this matter should be addressed to the Community Welfare Officer, Department of Social Protection Intreo Centre, Godfrey Place, Tralee, Co. Kerry.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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155. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a review of a decision for carer's allowance and carer's support grant has been completed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11712/23]

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 13 October 2022.

The application was referred to a local Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) on 21 October 2022 to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of CA were satisfied.

The SWI interviewed the person concerned on the 7 November 2022 and requested additional supporting documentation. A reminder e-mail issued on 17 November 2022 regarding this outstanding documentation. Some, but not all, of the requested documentation has been received from the person concerned to date.

Following a report from the SWI on 2 December 2022, the claim for CA was disallowed on the basis that the customer failed to reply and had not submitted the means information requested by the SWI.

A refusal letter issued to the person concerned on 5 December 2022. This outlined the reason for the decision and informed the person of their right of review and appeal.

A request for a review of this decision was received on 21 February 2023. This review has commenced and, once completed, correspondence will issue directly to the person concerned.

The person concerned also applied for the Carer's Support Grant. This was awarded to the person concerned as a stand-alone payment on 6 December 2022. The person was notified of this decision on the same day.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.