Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 March 2015
229. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 49 of 11 March 2015, if she will provide clarification on the meaning of the phrase "full-time" for care givers who are not living with receivers of care; if it is determined by number of hours per day or per week; and the way in which these decisions are validated. [11879/15]
View answerCarer's Allowance (CA) is a payment to people on low incomes who are looking after a person who needs support because of age, disability or illness (including mental illness). To be entitled to CA the applicant must be providing full-time care and attention to a person in need of care who does not normally live in an institution. These conditions apply whether the carer is or is not resident with the relevant person.
It is a role of a deciding officer (DO) to determine if an applicant for CA is providing full-time care to the care recipient. While no specific number of hours per day or per week is defined in legislation, Regulations further define full-time care and attention as continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continual supervision in order to avoid danger to himself or herself i.e. the care recipient. The DO operates appropriate discretion when assessing whether full-time care and attention is being provided, taking into consideration the circumstances of both the applicant and the person receiving care.
In certain cases, the DO may request that a local social welfare inspector investigate and report on the relevant circumstances in order to assist the DO in making a fair decision.
Where a decision is made by a DO that full-time care and attention is not being provided, the applicant may request a review of that decision with or without the provision of additional information or evidence. In addition, the applicant has the statutory right to appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.
