David Maxwell (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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261. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a working family payment application can be expedited in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cavan as the family is under severe financial pressure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38427/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Working Family Payment (WFP), formerly Family Income Supplement, is a weekly in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings with children. To qualify for Working Family Payment the customer must have at least 1 qualified child who normally resides with them and be working a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight in ongoing insurable employment.

A WFP application from the person concerned was received by the Department on 14 June 2025. A review has been completed and the claim has been awarded from 19 June 2025.

Arrears due to the person concerned have been issued from the date of the WFP claim.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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262. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an application for disability allowance for a County Donegal constituent (details supplied) will be processed based on their current means; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38455/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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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 medical assessment, a means test, and habitual residency conditions.

I can confirm the Department received an application for DA from the person concerned on 12 April 2024. Their initial application did not contain all the information required to determine their eligibility for DA. The application was referred to a Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) for a report on the person’s means and circumstances. The SWI submitted their report on 27 June 2024.

Following a review of all available information, it was determined that the person concerned failed to provide all the information requested by the Department and without this information the Department could not determine their means and therefore their application for DA was disallowed. The person concerned was notified of the decision on 16 July 2024. They were also notified of their entitlement to a request a review and/or appeal of the decision.

The person concerned lodged an appeal with the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). The Department received notification of the appeal, and papers pertaining to the appeal were submitted to the SWAO on 10 October 2024. The SWAO notified DA Section on 29 May 2025 that they had upheld the decision and the appeal was disallowed. The person concerned was notified directly by SWAO regarding the outcome of their appeal. An Appeal’s Officer’s decision is final and conclusive in the absence of any fresh facts or evidence. The person concerned may request a review of the Appeals Officers decision under Section 317 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act. They may also make a fresh application for DA supplying all outstanding information.

Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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263. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to urgently examine the carers benefit application for a person (details supplied) as this person has no income and is struggling to survive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38525/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Carer's Benefit is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention.

To qualify, the carer must satisfy PRSI conditions, employment conditions, show that they are providing full-time care and attention, and show that the care recipient requires full-time care and attention.

An application for Carer’s Benefit was received from the person concerned on 29 May 2025.

The claim was examined by a Deciding Officer and additional information was requested from the person concerned. Following receipt of the requested information, the person concerned was deemed to meet the qualifying conditions for Carer’s Benefit and the claim was awarded. Correspondence issued to the person concerned on the 4 July 2025 advising of the award on the claim from 29th May 2025 to 26th May 2027. This award is in respect of the full 104-week entitlement in respect of this care recipient.