Written answers

Wednesday, 22 January 2025

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Social Welfare Appeals

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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880. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an application for carer’s allowance will be approved as a matter of urgency for a person (details supplied). [1377/25]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Carer's Allowance 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.

Means are any income belonging to the carer and their spouse / civil partner / cohabitant, property (except their own home) or an asset that could bring in money or provide them with an income, for example occupational pensions, or pensions or benefits from another country.

I can confirm that my Department received an application for Carer's Allowance from the person concerned on 23 February 2024.

The claim was disallowed as the means of the person concerned exceeded the statutory means limit. The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 17 June 2024. They were also notified of their right to have the decision reviewed (where further information is available) or to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.

To date, no review or appeal request has been received from the person concerned.

As part of Budget 2025, and with effect from July 2025, the weekly income disregard will increase from €450 to €625 for a single person, and from €900 to €1,250 for couples.

It is open for the person concerned to re-apply for Carer’s Allowance by completing a CR1 application form. The application should be returned to: Carer's Allowance Section, Ballinalee Road, Longford, Co Longford, N39 E4E0.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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881. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if persons (details supplied) are in receipt of the household package and fuel allowance and electricity allowance. [1400/25]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Household Benefits Package comprises of an Electricity or Gas allowance, and a Free Television Licence. Only one Household Benefits Package is payable per household. The payment is made on a monthly basis.

The Household Benefits Package is generally available to people living in the State aged 66 years or over, who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment, or who satisfy a means test. The package is also available to some people under age 66 who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments. For customers aged 70 or over, there is no requirement to be in receipt of a qualifying payment or to satisfy a means test.

An application for the Household Benefits Package was received from the spouse of the person concerned on 17 September 2015. She was awarded the Household Benefits Package, backdated to the date her Carer's Allowance was awarded on 30 April 2015.

The person concerned is in receipt of State Pension Non-contributory. To qualify for Fuel Allowance, a person must be living alone or with other people who also satisfy the qualifying conditions. Following a review of the person’s entitlement to Fuel Allowance on 23 August 2022, it was determined that the person did not qualify, as another member of the household, aged under 66, was not in receipt of a qualifying payment from my department.

Should the person’s circumstances have changed and they wish to reapply for Fuel Allowance, it is necessary for the person concerned to complete and submit an application form, which has been issued to them by post. On receipt of the completed Fuel Allowance application, the person’s eligibility will be examined and they will be notified of the outcome.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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