Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 November 2023
262. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to arrange for jobseeker’s allowance to be restored to a person (details supplied) who is currently unemployed, has applied for carer’s allowance and as a result the jobseeker’s allowance was immediately removed, even though 4.5 months later no decision has been made on their carer’s allowance application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49133/23]
View answerOne of the qualifying conditions of Job Seekers is that the applicant is available for and seeking full-time employment.
Carers Allowance is a payment to a person who is caring full-time for an individual who needs support because of age, disability or illness. The person being cared for must require full-time care and attention.
When a person makes an application for Carers Allowance they are deemed not to meet the qualifying criteria of being available for and seeking full-time employment due to caring for another person. While in receipt of Jobseekers the applicant made an application for Carers Allowance. A review of the Jobseekers Claim was carried out and this resulted in the Job Seekers claim being closed as the person concerned no longer satisfied the condition of Job Seeking.
The Department issued a decision on the Carers Allowance application within 8 weeks of receipt of the application and that decision is currently under appeal.
