Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 May 2021
354. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a carer’s support grant appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; if the person can appeal the matter further; if there are any other payments they could apply for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25416/21]
View answerAn application for the Carer’s Support Grant (CSG) was received from the person concerned on 29 July 2020.
A person may apply for CSG in any given year 8 weeks before the date on which the grant is payable and up to 31 December the following year. To qualify for CSG, a carer must be providing full-time care to the care recipient for a continuous period of at least six months and this period must include the first Thursday in June.
As the conditions were satisfied for the 2019 grant, it was awarded and payment of €1,700 issued to the person concerned. The application for the 2020 grant was disallowed on the grounds that the person concerned was not providing care on the first Thursday in June, 2020 as the person she was caring for passed away on 23 May 2020. The person concerned was notified of both decisions on 10 November 2020 and informed of her right of review and appeal.
The person concerned requested a review and an appeal of the decision.
She was notified by the Department, on the 03 December 2020, that on review the original decision was upheld. On 12 April 2021 the Social Welfare Appeals Office notified the person concerned that her appeal was disallowed.
Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of an Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed in the light of relevant additional evidence or new facts.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, the Department may make an exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income. An application can be made under the ENP scheme for assistance with funeral and burial expenses where there is an inability to pay these costs, in part or in full, by the family of the deceased person without causing hardship.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
