Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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103. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide an update on the status of an application for carer's allowance (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41678/23]

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.

An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 10 March 2023.

The application was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of CA are satisfied.

It is a condition for receipt of CA that every claimant shall furnish such certificates, documents, information and evidence as may be required for the purposes of deciding the claim. The person concerned failed to provide the SWI with information that was required to determine if their means were below the statutory limit.

As the requested information was not supplied, it was decided that the person concerned was not entitled to CA.

The person concerned was notified on 8 May 2023 of this decision, the reason for it and of their right of review and appeal.

The person concerned has appealed this decision and has also requested a review and submitted additional evidence in support of their review. However, some requested financial documentation is still outstanding.

An information request for the outstanding documentation issued on 19 September 2023.

Once this information is received, the review will be completed without delay and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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104. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to explain the reason that a person (details supplied) has had their jobseeker's allowance reduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41679/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Jobseeker's Allowance (JA) is a means-tested payment made to people who areunemployed and who do not qualify for Jobseeker's Benefit. A person can work for up to 3 days a week and may still get JA for the other days. JA payments are subject to ongoing review by my Department for any income assessable in respect of this scheme. The means test plays a critical role in determining whether or not the recipient has a verifiable income need and that resources are targeted to those who need them most.

According to the records of my Department, the person concerned is in receipt of casual JA since September 2021. As part of a standard means review, the person was requested to provide details of all financial accounts held, a current payslip from their employer and a UP15 – Employer Declaration of Income form. Upon receipt and examination of these documents, the means review was completed in July 2023 and it was found that the means of the person concerned had increased. A letter was issued to the person on 17/07/2023 advising them of this outcome.

If the persons circumstances have changed since they submitted their financial information, it is open to them to request a review of the decision by contacting the Parnell Street Intreo Centre with any relevant information.

It is also open to the person concerned to appeal the decision of the Deciding Officer in writing to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office at Freepost, D'Olier House, D'Olier Street, Dublin 2, D02 XY31 or by emailing swappeals@welfare.ie .

I trust this clarifies the matter.