Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 June 2018
255. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding extensions to carer's benefit; the timeframe for same; if subsequent extensions can be granted; the timeframe to process the requests in view of the fact that the carers involved may have employment commitments and deadlines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28284/18]
View answerCarer's benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention.
It is payable for a maximum of 104 weeks for each person being cared for.
This may be claimed as a single continuous period or in any number of separate periods up to a total of 104 weeks.
Where a person is receiving CARB for a period of time and has used less than 104 weeks at the end of that period, they can seek to have their current period of entitlement extended on request. As part of the request they must submit evidence to show that they will be remaining out of employment during the extended period, except where the regulations otherwise allow.
They may also need to submit evidence to show that their care recipient will require full-time care and attention for the duration of the expended period.
Where the Department accepts that the care recipient will require full-time care and attention for the foreseeable future, and the carer submits the required employment evidence, extension requests are generally processed within two weeks.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
