Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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393. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a person (details supplied) can expect to have a decision on the financial review on their disability allowance completed in view that they are in financial poverty as a result; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32374/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Disability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, means test and Habitual Residency conditions

Correspondence from the person concerned was received by the Department on 9 March 2023 requesting a review of their DA rate of payment due to a change in circumstances. Based on the information provided to my Department, the maximum personal rate of DA has been applied to their payment with effect from 19 June 2019. The first payment of the new rate will be made by his chosen payment method on 05 July 2023.

The person concerned was notified of the decision in writing on 28 June 2023. Notification issued to the person concerned on 29 June 2023 confirming the agreed arrangement for the payment of arrears due.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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394. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a person (details supplied) can expect to have a decision on an application for carer’s allowance completed; the reason the working family payment was suspended on submission of a carer’s allowance application as this has placed the family in financial poverty as a result; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32375/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Carers 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.

Two applications for Carers Allowance (CA) in respect of her sons were received from the person concerned on 31 May 2023.

CA was awarded, including an increase for qualified children, to the person concerned from 1 June 2023 and the first payment will issue to their nominated post office on 6 July 2023. Arrears of allowance due from 1 June 2023 to 5 July 2023 will issue shortly.

The person concerned was notified on 29 June 2023 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.

The Working Family Payment (WFP) payment renewal was on hold, awaiting the outcome of the CA application. This has now been reinstated and an official from the WFP section rang the person to explain the process and confirmed that correspondence has issued on 30 June 2023.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.