Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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174. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when carer’s allowance might be restored in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50468/23]

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.

In order to qualify, applicants must show that they are habitually resident in the State, that their means are less than the statutory limit, that they are providing full-time care and attention and that the person being cared for requires that level of care.

Means are any income belonging to the carer and their spouse / civil partner / cohabitant, property, (except their own home) or an asset that could bring in money or provide them with an income, for example occupational pensions, or pensions or benefits from another country.

The “rent a room” means disregard may apply to Carer’s Allowance applicants who rent out a room in their own home. This allows for up to a limit of €269.23 per week in respect of income from renting a room in their own home to be disregarded. This does not apply to short-term lettings (of less than 28 consecutive days). It also does not apply if you are renting a room to your employee or to an immediate family member. The prescribed conditions for benefitting from this disregard can be found in the Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims, Payments and Control) (Amendment) (No 10) (Income Disregard) Regulation 2022 (SI 397/22), as amended.

Please be advised that unless an individual applies for CA, we cannot say for certain if the person concerned would qualify for a payment, the amount they might receive or whether their means is within the statutory limit.

As the person concerned has not been in receipt of CA since 2018 and there is no application lodged with the Department at this time, a new CR1 Application form has been posted to by the person concerned for completion. If the person in question wishes to make an application, they should complete and return the application form (CR1) to Carer’s Allowance Section in the Social Welfare Services Office, Longford, as soon as possible. Following the receipt of a completed application form and the finalisation of any necessary investigations, the person concerned will be notified directly in writing of the outcome.

I trust this clarifies the position for you at present.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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175. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if and when disability allowance or basic allowance can be paid in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50470/23]

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

I can confirm my Department has not received an application for DA for the person concerned. A completed DA application form must be submitted to the Department in order to establish if the person concerned has an entitlement.

The person concerned can apply to the Community Welfare Officer based in their local Intreo office for the means tested Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) if they are in need of financial assistance.

Application forms for DA and SWA were posted to the person concerned on 13 November 2023.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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176. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection whether illness benefit or disability allowance can or will be paid in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50471/23]

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.

I can confirm that the Department received an application for DA from the person concerned on 12 October 2023. The processing time for individual disability allowance claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the information they provide in support of their claim.

An information request was sent to the person concerned on 23 October 2023, allowing 21 days to provide the information. On receipt of the supporting documentation and on completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim, a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

Illness Benefit (IB)?is the primary short term income support provided by my Department to those who are unable to work due to illness of any type and who are covered by social insurance. Eligibility for IB depends on the person’s PRSI record and class.? People must have made the required number of contributions in Class A, E, H or P to qualify.

A completed IB application form should be submitted to the Department in order to establish if the person concerned has an alternative entitlement. An application form for Illness Benefit has been sent to the person concerned on 13 November 2023.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.