Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 June 2017
282. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine an application for carer's allowance by a person (details supplied) regarding full-time care; and if a review of the decision will also be undertaken. [30722/17]
View answerI confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 3 February 2017.
CA is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has a disability such that they require that level of care.
The person concerned was refused CA on the grounds that her means were not less than the statutory limit. She was notified on 1 June 2017 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
Carer's benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce to care for a person(s) in need of full-time care and attention.
To qualify the carer must satisfy PRSI conditions, employment conditions and must show that they are or will be providing full-time care and attention for a person who requires that level of care.
One of the PRSI conditions requires that the carer must have paid 156 qualifying contributions between their date of entry into insurable employment and up to the date the benefit is being claimed from.
Only contributions payable at PRSI Class A, B, C, D, H and E are qualifying contributions for CARB. As the person concerned does not have 156 qualifying contributions, she does not have an entitlement to CARB.
However the person concerned may have an entitlement to the carer’s support grant (CSG) which is an annual, non means-tested payment, made by the Department to full-time carers. People who are not in receipt of a social welfare payment but who are providing full-time care and attention are eligible to apply for the grant.
The primary conditions to be satisfied are that the carer be aged 16 or over; be ordinarily resident in the State and provide full-time care for the person for at least six months (this period of care must include the first Thursday in June).
In addition, the carer must live with the recipient of care or if not resident must be contactable quickly by a direct system of communication (for example, a telephone or alarm) between their home and the home of the person to whom they are providing care.
I have arranged for an application form and information leaflet for the CSG to issue to the person concerned.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
