Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Carer's Benefit 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 must show that the care recipient requires full-time care and attention.

In order to be eligible for Carer’s Benefit, the carer must also not exceed 18.5 working hours weekly and not earn in excess of €350. 00 (net of relevant deductions).

An application for Carer's Benefit was received from the person concerned on 19 September 2023.

Additional information in relation to the person’s application was requested by a deciding officer on 5 October 2023 in order to determine whether they are eligible for the payment.

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

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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143. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the supports that are in place for pensioners who are struggling to pay a high electrical bill because of continuous use of medical equipment; considering situations where an application for supplementary welfare allowance was refused due to receipt of a household benefits package; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44275/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department can make additional needs payments to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. This is an overarching term used to refer to exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary.

Payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the requirements of the legislation, and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.

Additional Needs Payments can be made to assist people who face difficulties in meeting household bills and energy costs. In the first half of 2023, over 3,000 such payments were made. In addition, my Department may award a supplement to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary. This can include a heating supplement where a person has need for additional heating due to ill health or infirmity.

If the Deputy has concerns in respect of a particular case, she should bring the details to the attention of my Department.

Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an Additional Needs Payment is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office. In addition, applications can be made online via www.mywelfare.ie.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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144. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the appeals officer received and reviewed a report (details supplied) before they made a decision on a disability allowance appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44276/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions.

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer decided to disallow the Disability Allowance appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision on 11 September 2023. Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of the Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by the Appeals Officer in the light of new evidence or new facts, or where there has been a change of circumstances which has come to notice since the date of the Appeals Officer's original decision.

In light of the evidence submitted by the Deputy the Department has been requested to return the file to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. On receipt of this file, the Appeals Officer will review the case. The person concerned will be contacted when the review of her appeal has been finalised.