Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned will reach 66 years of age in 2025.

As the person concerned has 520 full-rate paid contributions, the eligibility criteria for State pension (contributory) are met. The rate payable when the person concerned claims their state pension (contributory) will be dependent on the number of contributions and credited contributions on their social insurance record. In order to qualify for the maximum rate of pension, the person concerned requires a total of 2,080 (equivalent to 40 years) reckonable contributions and credits.

I have arranged for a copy of their social insurance record to issue along with a detailed explanatory to assist in understanding their record, and information on how to calculate entitlement to state pension (contributory).

In January 2024, I introduced a flexible pension system, where people can claim their state pension (contributory) at 66 or choose to defer their pension, work longer and receive a higher pension payment.

Further information in relation to State Pension (contributory) is available on www.gov.ie/pension.

In relation to the request for a review of the decision that issued on 25 January 2024 to disallow the Benefit Payment for 65-year-olds, a review has now been completed and the decision to disallow has been upheld. A letter outlining the reasons has issued to the person concerned.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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112. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for an update on a carer's allowance application for a person (details supplied). [8351/24]

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.

Two applications for CA were received from the person concerned on 19 May 2023.

It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have such a disability that as a result they require full-time care and attention.

This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision, and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continual supervision to avoid danger to him or herself and likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months.

The evidence submitted in support of both applications was examined and the Deciding Officer decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied for either care recipient.

The person concerned was notified on 20 June 2023 of the decisions, the reason for them and of the right of review and appeal.

The person concerned requested a review of both decisions on 12 July 2023.

The applications were referred to a local Social Welfare Inspector on 16 August 2023 to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of Carer’s Allowance were satisfied.

On 24 October 2023, the Deciding Officer reviewed all the evidence for both cases and found that, although a certain level of care was provided, the evidence submitted did not satisfy the full time care and attention requirement as defined in the legislation for either care recipient. Therefore, the applications for CA were disallowed and the decisions remained unchanged.

The person concerned was notified of this decisions, the reasons for them and of the right to review/appeal.

A request for appeal was received and both cases were sent to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) on 12 July 2023 and are currently awaiting decision.

Should the person wish to contact the SWAO directly, they can be contacted by phone at 1890 74 74 34 or +353 1 6732800 or by e-mail: swappeals@welfare.ie

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 Carer's Allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 22 December 2023.

As the person concerned was self-employed, the matter was referred to a local Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) on 5 January 2023 to assess all means and to confirm that all the conditions for the receipt of CA are satisfied.

Once the Inspector has completed their report, a decision will be made at the earliest possible date and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.