Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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666. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration will be given to ensuring that individuals who have been part of the social welfare system for several years and are required to transition between allowances due to unforeseen circumstances (such as a severe illness or stroke) do not lose eligibility for the Christmas bonus and other entitlements, particularly in cases where the delay in processing their new claim is beyond their control (details supplied). [44423/24]

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.

I can confirm that an application for CA was received from one of the persons concerned on 23 October 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 further information issued to the person concerned on 25 October 2024.

Once the information requested is received, a decision will be made, and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

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 a medical examination, a means test and habitual residency conditions.

A DA application was received from one of the persons concerned on 23 October 2024. The person will be notified directly of the outcome once the application has been assessed.

Processing times vary across schemes, depending on the differing eligibility criteria. Schemes that require a high level of documentary evidence from the customer, particularly in the case of illness-related schemes, can take longer to process. Similarly, means-tested schemes can also require more detailed investigations and interaction with the customer, thereby lengthening the decision-making process.

The current average processing time for CA is 7 weeks while the current average processing time for DA is 6 weeks.

Subject to meeting all qualifying criteria for the schemes, payments commence on the first week following receipt of application. The payment of a Christmas bonus and any cost of living payments will be automatic (and included with arrears if the payment date is missed), subject to the all qualifying conditions being satisfied.

In the meantime, the people concerned may apply to the Community Welfare Service for the means tested Supplementary Welfare Allowance if they are in need of financial assistance while awaiting the outcome of their applications.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.