Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 April 2012
684 Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Dublin who was previously on jobseeker’s allowance but now on carer’s allowance, may have the difference in the two payments backdated from the date they applied for carer’s allowance to when it was granted, and paid as arrears; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19369/12]
View answerThe person in question was in receipt of jobseeker's allowance with effect from September 2007. On that claim, payment was included for himself, his partner and his child as qualified dependants. He submitted a claim for carer's allowance on 29 July 2010. His claim was disallowed on the grounds that the care recipient was not so disabled or invalided as to require full-time care and attention as laid down in legislation. He was notified of this decision and of his right of appeal. Following an oral hearing on 25 October 2011, the appeal was allowed. On 27 October 2011, the person concerned was notified accordingly.
As there is no provision to pay for partners as dependants on carer's allowance, his jobseeker's allowance rate was payable at a higher rate of payment than the current rate payable to him on his carer's allowance entitlement. During a phone call on 27 January 2012, he was advised accordingly.
Consequently, if his carer's allowance claim was backdated, his carer's allowance arrears would not cover the amount paid to him on his Jobseeker's allowance entitlement. As it is more beneficial to him to opt for carer's allowance and his partner to make a claim in her own right, his entitlement was put into payment from 15 December 2011. In addition, he is also entitled to €1,700 in respect of the respite care grant due on 2 June 2011. This amount issued to him on 22 November 2011. Subsequently, his partner submitted an application for disability allowance in her own right. However, her application is currently under appeal and in the meantime she has secured a means tested supplementary welfare payment in her own right. While the household weekly entitlement is reduced by €2 per week at present, the household is financially better off when you take entitlement to the free schemes and entitlement to the annual respite care grant into account.
685 Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for carer’s allowance will be expedited and approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [19440/12]
View answerThe person concerned was refused an increase in his carer's allowance in respect of a second care recipient on the grounds that, based upon the medical evidence provided, the care recipient is not so disabled as to require full time care and attention as prescribed in regulations. On 24 August 2011, he was notified of this decision and the reason for it.
He appealed the decision, however the appeal was disallowed and the person in question was notified accordingly on 5 January 2012. An appeals officer's decision is final and may only be reviewed in the light of new evidence being made available that was not to hand at the time of the appeal.
