Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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110. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made for a carer’s benefit review (details supplied); if any outstanding documentation is required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53923/23]

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 show that the care recipient requires full-time care and attention.

CARB is payable for a period of 2 years (104 weeks) for each care recipient and may be claimed over separate periods up to a total of 2 years (104 weeks).

An application for CARB was received from the person concerned on 15 September 2023. The application was awarded for the full entitlement of 104 weeks from 26 October 2023 to 22 October 2025 and the first payment issued on 26 October 2023.

The award date was based on the information supplied that the person intended to reduce their hours of employment to meet the employment qualifying condition of 18.5 hours per week from 23 October 2023.

A request for backdating was submitted by the person concerned on the 26 October 2023. A Deciding Officer has examined the request and determined that further information is required to make a formal decision. A written request for this information was issued on 11 November 2023.

On receipt of the information, a Deciding Officer will make a formal decision on the request for backdating and the person concerned will be notified in writing.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.