Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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493. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there are any circumstances in which carer's benefit can be issued to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24831/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Carer's Benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention.

To qualify, the carer must satisfy PRSI conditions, employment conditions, show that they are providing full-time care and attention and show that the care recipient requires full-time care and attention.

Carer’s Benefit is payable to a carer for up to a maximum of 104 weeks in respect of a care recipient. Once a carer has claimed the full 104 week entitlement in respect of a care recipient, that claim is exhausted and it is not possible for the carer to claim further Carer’s Benefit in respect of that care recipient.

An application for Carer’s Benefit was received from the person concerned on the 25 February 2021 in respect of their spouse. The claim was awarded for 104 weeks for the periods 04/03/2021 to 01/03/2023 following initial award, review and extension requests.

This person concerned was advised in a letter dated 8 March 2023 that the maximum entitlement of 104 weeks for the named care recipient had now been exhausted. It advised that the person may have an entitlement to Carer's Allowance subject to all conditions, including a means test, being satisfied. A Carer's Allowance application form was issued with this letter.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.