Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to illness or disability. I am not able to discuss individual cases but will set out the relevant policies in my reply.

People in receipt of Invalidity Pension who wish to return to work may apply to transfer to Partial Capacity Benefit if their capacity for work is reduced as a result of their medical condition. Partial Capacity Benefit is a scheme which extends the Illness Benefit and Invalidity Pension schemes to respond to the reality that some people in receipt of these payments have a capacity to engage in open market employment while continuing to need to receive some income support from the State.

The personal rate of payment of Partial Capacity Benefit is based on a medical assessment of a person’s restriction regarding their capacity for work. After the medical assessment, if a person's disability is rated as moderate, severe or profound their payment continues at 50%, 75% or 100% per cent of their existing rate, respectively. If assessed as mild they will not qualify for Partial Capacity Benefit. A person who moves from Invalidity Pension can be in receipt of Partial Capacity Benefit for a maximum duration of 156 weeks. There are no restrictions or limits on earnings from employment or on the number of hours a person can work.

A primary qualifying condition for the Carer’s Allowance payment is that the applicant provides full-time care and attention to a person in need of such care. The person being cared for must be so incapacitated as to require full-time care and attention and be likely to require this full-time care and attention for at least 12 months. The primary objective of the payment is to provide an income support to carers whose earning capacity is substantially reduced as a consequence of their caring responsibilities.

If a person on Invalidity Pension transfers to Partial Capacity Benefit and takes up employment, it is highly unlikely that their carer would still be eligible for the Carer's Allowance payment (or half-rate Carer's Allowance). The individual concerned would need to contact the Department directly to discuss their personal circumstances as their payment would depend on the number of hours of employment and the level of care required by the caree.

This Department is not responsible for the medical card scheme, it is administered by the HSE so I cannot comment on that aspect of the Deputy's question.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

268. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a respite carer’s grant will be made available to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30466/23]

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 increased payment can be made where full-time care is being provided to two people. CA is payable for up to two care recipients at a time. The Carers Support Grant (CSG) is payable for each person being cared for.

I can confirm the person concerned is in receipt of CA for their son since 4 December 2014 and they received the 2023 CSG of €1,850 in respect of him on 17 June 2023.

Two new applications for CA were received from the person concerned in relation to their mother on 31 March 2023 and their aunt on 3 April 2023.

The evidence submitted in support of both applications was examined and the deciding officer decided that, although a certain level of care was being provided, the level involved did not amount to full-time care.

The person concerned was notified on 8 May 2023 of these decisions, the reasons for them and of their right of review and appeal.

The person concerned requested both a review and appeal of these decisions and submitted additional evidence in support of their applications.

As part of the reviews, the applications were referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) to assess the level of care being provided and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of CA are satisfied.

Once the SWI has reported, a decision will be made, and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

In cases where an applicant does not have an entitlement to CA, the carer may apply for the CSG as a standalone payment. The CSG is an annual payment for carers who look after a person in need of full-time care and attention. The payment is made regardless of the carer's means but is subject to the same caring conditions as CA.

Application forms for CSG can be found at any Intreo Centre, Social Welfare Branch Office or Citizens' Information Office or can be downloaded from gov.ie at www.gov.ie/en/form/c79632-carers-support-grant-csg1/.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.