Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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305. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made for a carer’s benefit review (details supplied); the current processing times for such reviews; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49839/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Carer's Benefit (CARB) 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.

An application for CARB was received from the person concerned on 15 September 2023.

The person concerned was awarded Carer’s Benefit from 26 October 2023 to 22 October 2025 based on the Carer’s Leave information supplied by the employer on Part 4 of the application form. A decision letter issued to this effect on 5 October 2023.

A request to review and backdate the award date was received on 26 October 2023 along with an updated Part 4 from the employer to support the request. However, further information to support the review has been requested from the customer. Once this is received, the review will be processed without delay and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

In general, Carer's Benefit review decisions issue within 4 weeks. Where a review is not processed within that timeframe, the delay is generally due to additional information or documentation being requested from the person to support their application and the length of time it takes for that information to be provided.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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306. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a carers allowance application (details supplied) can be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49848/23]

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, having fully considered all of the available evidence, disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision on 27 June 2023.

The Social Welfare Appeals system is underpinned by legislation which sets down the roles, powers and functions of the Social Welfare Appeals Office and its Appeals Officers. Under the legislation, the decision of an Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may be reviewed under section 317 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act, 2005 by an Appeals Officer in the light of new evidence or new facts. If there is any new evidence or new facts pertinent to this case that were not brought to the attention of the Appeals Officer during the determination of the appeal, they may be submitted to the Appeals office for further consideration.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.