Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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486. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason that people who will be completing 12 months on illness benefit in the period between the payment of the Christmas bonus and Christmas Day are not included in the payment; and if a person (details supplied) who commenced illness benefit on the 12 December 2022 will be paid the Christmas bonus [54894/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Illness Benefit is a payment for those who cannot work due to illness and who satisfy the pay-related social insurance contribution conditions. Illness Benefit is paid for a maximum of two years and is classified as a short-term scheme.

A Christmas Bonus will be paid to long-term Illness benefit customers in the week commencing 4th December. For the purposes of this bonus, long term is classified as those who have accumulated 306 paid days by Sunday 26th November 2023. Customers who accumulate 306 paid days after this date, between the payment of the Christmas bonus and Christmas Day are not included in this bonus.

The person concerned had 291 paid days by Sunday 26th November and as such does not qualify for the Christmas Bonus.

I hope this clarifies the position for the deputy.

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.

An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 14 January 2015.

Once claims are in payment, my Department undertakes periodic reviews to ensure that there is continued entitlement to payment. A review of this person's claim commenced in May 2023 which resulted in the payment being suspended from 13 July 2023. The reason for this suspension was that the person concerned failed to submit requested information within the requested timeframe.

The information requested was submitted by the person concerned on 1 December 2023. Following receipt of this information, CA was reinstated with effect from 13 July 2023. The first payment was made on 7 December 2023. Arrears for the period 13 July 2023 to 6 December 2023 will also issue.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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488. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the 2023 carer’s support grant will be paid to a person in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54937/23]

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.

The person concerned was awarded CARB from 17 August 2023.

Carers who are in receipt of, or entitled to receive, Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit or Domiciliary Care Allowance on the first Thursday in June are paid the Carers Support Grant (CSG) automatically on that date.

As the person concerned was awarded Carer's Benefit after the CSG issue date of 1 June 2023, they would not be automatically entitled to the 2023 CSG through this scheme. The CSG will automatically issue to the person concerned in 2024 and 2025 once they are in receipt of CARB on the relevant CSG issue dates for those years.

A carer who is not in receipt of one of these payments on the first Thursday of June may still qualify for the standalone Carer’s Support Grant and must complete the appropriate application form to be considered for that scheme.

Some of the qualifying conditions for the standalone CSG include the following:

The Carer must:

• be aged 16 or over;
• be ordinarily resident in the State;
• care for the person on a full-time basis and be providing care for the person for at least six months. This period of care must include the first Thursday in June;
• not be employed or self-employed for more than 18.5 hours per week;
• not be attending a training or educational course for more than 18.5 hours per week;
• not be in receipt of Jobseeker's Benefit or Allowance or be signing for credited contributions.