The transfer of the Domiciliary Care Allowance scheme from the Health Service Executive to this Department arises from a Government decision on 28 February 2006 to reallocate certain functions between Departments and Agencies as part of the health service reform programme. The transfer took place in two stages:
Since 1 April 2009 all new claims for Domiciliary Care Allowance are being decided by the Department.
In September 2009 the Department took over responsibility for the payment of all Domiciliary Care Allowance claims from the Health Service Executive.
In the period 1 April 2009 to 9 October 2009 a total of 2430 applications have been received in the required format of which 1688 cases have been fully processed by the Department. Of these applications, 633 were awarded while 1055 were deemed not to be eligible for Domiciliary Care Allowance. 742 applications are currently pending. Where a person is not satisfied with the decision of a Deciding Officer they may seek to have the decision reviewed or they may appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.