Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021
591. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 342 of 12 October 2021 and 630 of 19 October 2021, the reason she refuses to outline the specific reason the claim for carer’s benefit was refused; if she will outline in detail the specific condition for eligibility that the applicant failed to meet; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52500/21]
View answerCarer's benefit (CARB) is a PRSI based payment made to insured people who leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention.
There are a number of conditions that must be satisfied in order to qualify for CARB, including employment conditions and certain PRSI contribution conditions.
Under the provisions of the legislation a person claiming CARB must be in remunerative full time employment (for a minimum of 16 hours in the week or 32 hours in the fortnight) for eight weeks out of the previous 26 week period immediately prior to the first day on which a claim is made.
Only PRSI conditions paid in classes A, B, C, D, E and H are counted towards CARB. Contributions paid at class S (self-employed contributions) do not count.
The person concerned applied for CARB on 15 January 2020. Having considered the evidence submitted in support of the application, a Deciding Officer determined that the conditions above were not met and the claim was disallowed as the customer in question was self-employed prior to her application for CARB and as such did not satisfy the PRSI contribution conditions of the scheme. Only PRSI contributions paid in classes A, B, C, D, E and H are counted towards CARB. Class S contributions (self-employed) do not count towards CARB.
The person concerned was notified of the decision on 25 February 2020, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal.
According to the records of this Department, the person concerned has not requested a review or appeal of this decision to date.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
