Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

199. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason for the delay with a carer’s allowance application for a person (details supplied); and when the applicant can expect to receive a decision. [4975/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 27 March 2024.

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

A request for further information issued on 10 April 2024.

As the person concerned failed to provide such certificates, documents, information, and evidence that was requested of them their claim was disallowed.

The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 21 May 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.

The person concerned requested a review on 16 September 2024 and returned further correspondence and, following this, a further information request issued.

Following receipt of the requested documents on 16 January 2025, CA was awarded on 06 February 2025, with effect from 01 June 2023 and the first payment will issue to their nominated post office on 13 February 2025. Arrears for the period 01 June 2023 to 12 February 2025 will issue shortly.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

200. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason illness benefit is not being paid to a person (details supplied) who is on a CE scheme since 2023 and is now unable to work. [5022/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department received an application for Illness Benefit from the person concerned on 13th January 2025. Unfortunately, they did not qualify for payment of Illness Benefit as they did not satisfy the PRSI conditions.

In order to qualify for Illness Benefit, a person must have at least 39 reckonable PRSI contributions paid or credited in the relevant tax year, or 26 contributions paid in both the relevant tax year and the year before that. For claims made in 2025, the relevant tax year is 2023. The person concerned has only 9 reckonable contributions paid in 2023, and no reckonable contributions in 2022, and as such they do not qualify for payment.

A letter issued to the person on 13th January 2025 providing them with the full details of this decision. The person concerned should continue to submit medical certificates for as long as they are incapable of work in order to receive PRSI credited contributions.

If the person concerned is in urgent need of financial assistance, it is open for them to contact the Community Welfare Officer in their local Intreo office to enquire about assistance under the means-tested Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

201. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an invalidity pension will be approved for a person (details supplied). [5047/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 6th December 2024. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers have been received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 7th January 2025, and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral hearing.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

202. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if carer’s allowance will be approved for a person (details supplied). [5049/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 21 November 2024.

CA was awarded on 10 February 2025 and the first payment will issue to their nominated bank account on 13 February 2025. Arrears due will issue shortly.

The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 10 February 2025.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.