Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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1041. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to backdating arrears for six months for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11895/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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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 CA was received from the person concerned on 28 August 2024.

CA was awarded from 29 August 2024. The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 18 October 2024.

A backdating review was initiated on foot of correspondence received on 30 October 2024. Following this review, the decision and date of award remained unchanged. The person was notified of this decision in writing on 23 January 2025. 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 Appeal Office.

A person is disqualified from payment of CA for any period before the date on which the claim is made. However, the claim can be backdated for up to 6 months in circumstances where "good cause" is shown for the delay in making the claim, provided the claimant can prove to the satisfaction of the Deciding Officer (DO) or Appeals Officer (AO) that they satisfied the qualifying conditions for receipt of payment during that period.

Further back-dating may also be possible in certain circumstances:

• where the failure to claim within the prescribed time period arose as a result of false and misleading information being provided by staff of this department to the person or their agent, or
• the person was so incapacitated by illness or infirmity between time of entitlement and making the claim that they could not make the claim or instruct another person to make the claim on their behalf