Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2020
866. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) who was a carer for their parent until 19 September 2019 has been issued with a letter from her Department stating they owe €2,628 in carer’s allowance overpayment. [32706/20]
View answer867. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) has been given a bill from her Department for overpayment for their carer’s allowance based on information that states their parent was in a nursing home from April 2020. [32707/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 866 and 867 together.
Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
I can confirm that the person concerned was in receipt of CA in respect of her mother from 25 October 2018 to 22 April 2020.
It came to the departments attention that the care recipient was residing in a Nursing Home on a permanent basis since 23 April 2019.
A letter issued to the person concerned on 27 February 2020 to advise that her CA payment was under review, the reason for it and the information available to the Deciding Officer (DO). The person concerned was offered the opportunity to furnish any statement of evidence on the matter within 7 days of the date of this correspondence. No response has been received to date.
On 7 April 2020 further correspondence issued to the person concerned to advise that her payment was suspended from 22 April 2020. The person concerned was also advised that her CA and Carers Support Grant (CSG) payments which were in payment since 17 July 2019 to 22 April 2020 were also being reconsidered.
In the correspondence which issued to the person concerned on 7 April 2020, the person concerned was offered the opportunity to furnish any statement of evidence on the matter. Following this a letter from the Nursing Home was received, confirming a long term residence admission date of 19 September 2019. This was then taken into consideration by the DO when reaching their decision on 16 April 2020.
Correspondence issued to the person concerned on 16 April 2020 advising that her payment was terminated with effect from 21 April 2020. It also advised the person concerned that she had no entitlement to CA payments from the period 19 December 2019 to 5 March 2020.
This correspondence detailed the decision and the reasons for it. The person concerned was further advised of the amount she was overpaid, that she is liable to refund this sum to the department and that the department will be in contact with her in relation to the overpayment.
The person concerned was also advised of her right of review and appeal.
To date no request for review or appeal has been received from the person concerned
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
