Written answers

Monday, 9 September 2024

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Social Welfare Benefits

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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997.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to advise on allowance entitlements in a case (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.[35367/24]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Department operates a range of means-tested social assistance payments. The means test takes account of the income and assets of the person (and spouse / partner, if applicable) applying for the relevant scheme. Income and assets include income from employment, self-employment, occupational pensions, maintenance payments as well as property owned (other than the family home) and capital such as savings, shares, and other investments.

If a social welfare recipient sells their home, the proceeds of the sale are normally taken into account as means. However, social welfare legislation provides for a specific disregard for recipients of the State Pension (Non-Contributory), Disability Allowance or Blind Pension when they sell their home in certain situations.

For these schemes, where these circumstances apply, the means test takes into account up to €190,500 of the gross proceeds of the sale.

The disregard of €190,500 applies to specific purposes where a person disposes of their principal residence for the purpose of either:

  1. Purchasing alternative accommodation which is or will be occupied as their only main residence;
  2. Funding the renting of alternative accommodation which is or will be be occupied as their only main residence;
  3. Funding the payment of fees to a nursing home in accordance with section 4 of the Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990 (no. 23 of 1990);
  4. Residing with a carers as defined in section 99 or section 179, who is in receipt of carer's benefit or carer's allowance in respect of the care and attention provided to the claimant or beneficiary, or
  5. Residing in accommodation suitable for elderly persons which incorporates communal and support facilities and which is provided by a body approved by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government for the purposes of section 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992 (No 18 of 1992).
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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998.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for carers allowance by a person in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.[35400/24]

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.

I can confirm that an application for CA was received from the person concerned on 28 June 2024.

It is a condition for receipt of CA that every claimant shall furnish such certificates, documents, information, and evidence as may be required for the purposes of deciding their claim.

A request for information issued to the person concerned on 05 July 2024. The person concerned supplied some information on 20 August 2024, however, as all of the requested information was not received, a further information request issued on 30 August 2024.

Once the documents requested in the letter dated 30 August 2024 are received, a decision will be made, and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

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