Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 May 2018
546. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied); if the matter will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21164/18]
View answerCarer'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.
An application for CARB was received from the person concerned on 29 March 2018.
To qualify the carer must satisfy PRSI conditions, employment conditions, show that they are or will be providing full-time care and attention and must show that the care recipient requires full-time care and attention.
The PRSI condition requires that the carer must have 156 paid contributions since their entry into insurable employment and one of the following:
- 39 paid contributions in the 2nd last complete tax year before the year in which CARB is claimed
Or
- 39 paid contributions in the 12 months before carers benefit starts
Or
- 26 paid contributions in the 2nd last complete tax year before the year in which CARB is claimed and 26 paid contributions in the tax year before that.
Credited or voluntary contributions cannot be used to satisfy this condition.
The paid PRSI contributions must belong to the following PRSI classes: A, B, C, D, H and E.
This CARB application was disallowed on the grounds that this condition was not satisfied.
The person concerned was notified on 11 May 2018 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
The person concerned was refused carer's allowance in 2016 as her means exceeded the statutory limit. It is open to her to re-apply if her means have changed.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
