Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
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258. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the current status of the carer’s benefit claim for a person (details supplied); the options available to the applicant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54132/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Carer's Benefit (CARB) 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 CARB was received from the person concerned on 01 November 2023 in respect of their mother. The claim was disallowed on the 4 January 2024, as the Deciding Officer (DO) having regard to the opinion of the Department's Medical Assessor decided that the information supplied did not show that the care recipient required full time care. It was further disallowed as the person concerned was working for more than 18.5 hour per week and was not deemed to be providing care adequate to meet the eligibility criteria regarding the provision of full time care and attention.

A review request was received from the person concerned on 12 January 2024 with supporting information. Upon review, the person concerned was deemed to satisfy the provision of care, however, the original decision regarding the requirement for full time care and attention was upheld. Correspondence to this effect issued on 24 January 2024. A further review was requested and was unsuccessful and the person concerned was notified of this on 12 February 2024.

A request for an appeal of this decision was received by the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 03 March 2024. The Appeals Officer examined all the relevant information and upheld the Department's original decision. Notification of the Appeal outcome issued directly to the person concerned on 12 June 2024. The person concerned requested a review of the Appeals Office decision and following review, it was disallowed. Correspondence to this effect issued to the person concerned on 23 September 2025.

A separate application for CARB was received from the person concerned in respect of their uncle on 21 March 2025. Additional information in relation to this application was requested by a DO on the 10 April 2025 to determine whether the person concerned met the eligibility requirements. The requested information was not provided and the claim was disallowed. The person concerned was notified on 14 May 2025 of this decision, the reasons for it and of their right of review and appeal.

It is open to the person concerned to reapply for CARB if they feel that they are eligible and meet all of the qualifying criteria for the scheme.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.