Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 January 2016
40. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to review an application by a person (details supplied) in County Cork under the carer's allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3618/16]
View answerCarer's Allowance (CA) is a social assistance payment made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a relevant person/persons and whose income falls below certain limits.
The person concerned is currently in receipt of CA in respect of care of her aunt. Previously, she was in receipt of CA from 8 November 1990 up to 25 March 2015 in respect of her late father, up until the time he passed away. During part of that period, from 1997 to 2004, she was in receipt of CA for a 2nd care recipient, her late mother until she passed away.
The department received an application for CA from the person concerned in respect of her aunt on 16 March 2015. The application was awarded in line with legislation, from 19 March 2015 which is the first Thursday after receipt of the application.
The person concerned sought to have the award backdated to 21 March 2014 on the grounds that she wasn’t aware that she could claim payment in respect of a 2nd care recipient. This application for backdating was refused by a deciding officer on the grounds that good cause for a delay in claiming was not demonstrated.
The person concerned appealed the date of award of CA in respect of care of her aunt and the case was submitted to the Social Welfare Appeals Office for determination. An appeals officer (AO), having fully considered all of the available evidence, disallowed the appeal on 30 November 2015. She noted that the appellant had not shown good cause for the delay in applying, particularly as she had previous experience of making a claim for a second care recipient.
The person concerned was notified on 11 December 2015 of the AO’s decision and was provided at that time with a detailed explanation of the basis for this decision.
Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of an AO is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed in the light of relevant additional evidence or new facts.
