James Lawless
Question:892. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if the carer’s benefit allocation of a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31419/21]
View answerTuesday, 15 June 2021
Questions (892)
Written answers
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 husband from 19 February 2015.
The Medical Control Section in the Department undertook a review of the CA claim of the person concerned and the requirement for full time care of the care recipient in October 2017. Following the receipt of the medical information from the care recipient, the Department’s Medical Assessor (MA) found that the care recipient did not require full time care and attention and deemed the person concerned was not eligible for CA. A Natural Justice letter issued to the person concerned in August 2019.
The person concerned submitted further medical evidence to the Department in September 2019 and this was referred to the Department’s MA. Having reviewed this additional information, the Department upheld their original decision that the person concerned was not eligible for CA.
Due to the COVID lockdown in March 2020, the Department did not issue any letters of termination until May 2021, when the person concerned was informed that their eligibility for CA would cease on the 26th June 2021. The customer subsequently contacted the Department to indicate that they would provide additional medical information for the care recipient. Once any additional information is provided, this will be considered and the Department will notify the person concerned of the outcome of the review of his claim.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.