Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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261. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the current status of a carers allowance review for a person (details supplied); when a decision will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49090/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Carer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has a disability such that they require that level of care.

It is a condition for receipt of CA that the person being cared for must have such disability that they require full-time care and attention.  This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continual supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself and likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months.

Following the receipt of further medical evidence, a decision on the review of this claim, which is currently ongoing, will be made in the coming days and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome immediately.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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262. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to arrange for jobseeker’s allowance to be restored to a person (details supplied) who is currently unemployed, has applied for carer’s allowance and as a result the jobseeker’s allowance was immediately removed, even though 4.5 months later no decision has been made on their carer’s allowance application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49133/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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One of the qualifying conditions of Job Seekers is that the applicant is available for and seeking full-time employment.

Carers Allowance is a payment to a person who is caring full-time for an individual who needs support because of age, disability or illness. The person being cared for must require full-time care and attention.

When a person makes an application for Carers Allowance they are deemed not to meet the qualifying criteria of being available for and seeking full-time employment due to caring for another person. While in receipt of Jobseekers the applicant made an application for Carers Allowance. A review of the Jobseekers Claim was carried out and this resulted in the Job Seekers claim being closed as the person concerned no longer satisfied the condition of Job Seeking.

The Department issued a decision on the Carers Allowance application within 8 weeks of receipt of the application and that decision is currently under appeal.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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263. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an appeal for carer’s allowance will be processed and a decision made on it; and if she will make a statement on the matter (details supplied). [49134/23]

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. 

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 18 July 2023.  It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought.  Contact has been made with the Department to expedite this matter.  When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral appeal hearing. 

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Carer's Support Grant (CSG) is an annual payment made to carers by my Department.

I can confirm that my Department received two applications for CSG from the person concerned on 30 August 2023.

In order to determine whether the person concerned satisfies the conditions for CSG, the matter has been referred to a local Social Welfare Inspector (SWI). Once the SWI has completed their enquiries, a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy .

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm that my Department received an application for Disability Allowance (DA) from the person concerned on 28 April 2023.

Based on an initial review on the completeness of their application, the person concerned was requested to supply supporting documentation on 18 May 2023 in order to make a determination on their DA eligibility.

The application was disallowed as the person concerned had failed to provide the information requested on 18 May 2023 in order to determine that his means does not exceed the statutory maximum allowed under the DA scheme. The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 15 July 2023, and they were given the right to a review or an appeal.

Following a fresh review of this application, it was referred to a Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) on 4 October 2023 for a report on the applicant's means and circumstances. The SWI requested information from the person concerned on 11 October 2023, with the report being returned to the DA section on 20 October 2023.

Following this review, the person concerned has been awarded DA with effect from 3 May 2023. The first payment will be made by their chosen payment method on 15 November 2023. Arrears of payment due will issue as soon as possible, once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments (if applicable).

The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 7 November 2023.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.