Written answers

Tuesday, 12 December 2023

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Social Welfare Benefits

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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490. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 331 of 21 November 2023, if she will now expedite a positive decision based on the medical evidence provided (details supplied). [54956/23]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather 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 amedical assessment, means test and Habitual Residency conditions.

I can confirm that my Department received a DA application from the person concerned on 23 May 2023. Based on the evidence supplied in support of this application, it was disallowed on the grounds that the medical qualifying conditions were not satisfied. The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision and they were given the right to review and or appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO).

My Department received a representation from the Deputy, on behalf of the person concerned, on 28 August 2023, requesting an appeal of the decision dated 14 August 2023. In addition, the Deputy advised that a medical report to support this application would follow. I can confirm that the Deputy's email correspondence was acknowledged on 29 August 2023. To date, no further medical information has been received in respect of this individual.

An appeal request has been forwarded to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). The person concerned will be notified directly regarding the outcome of the appeal by the SWAO.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Photo of Pearse DohertyPearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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491. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made on a carer's allowance application for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54962/23]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather 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 4 August 2022.

To qualify for CA the person being cared for must be:

  • over the age of 16 and so incapacitated as to require full-time care and attention. or
  • aged under 16 and getting a Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA)
The CA application was disallowed on 5 January 2023 as the person being cared for was aged under 16 and DCA was not in payment.The DCA has since been awarded.

The application was referred back to a local Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) on 14 October 2023 to assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of CA are satisfied.

Following the SWI report, CA was awarded to the person concerned on 8 December 2023 with effect from 7 April 2022 and the first payment will issue to their nominated bank account on 14 December 2023.

Arrears for the period 17 April 2022 to 13 December 2023 will issue shortly.

The person concerned was notified on 8 December 2023 of this decision, the reason for it and of their right of review and appeal.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

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