Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 February 2022
90. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will urgently review the financial assessment element of the carer’s allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5359/22]
View answerCarer's allowance 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.
Means for the purpose of this payment comprises any income belonging to the carer and their spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant, property, (except their own home) or an asset that could provide them with monies or an income, for example occupational pensions, or pensions or benefits from another country.
The person concerned is in receipt of Carers Allowance in respect of her care recipient since 12 January 2017. No means were assessed against the person concerned at the time of the application. Claims in payment are subject to periodic review to ensure that there is a continued entitlement to payment.
The means test for Carer's Allowance is one of the most generous in the social protection system. Currently, €332.50 of gross weekly income is disregarded in the calculation of means for a single person; the equivalent for a person who is married, in a civil partnership, or cohabiting is €665 of combined gross weekly income.
In this particular case, a means review was initiated in September 2021. The outcome of this means review, based on the information available to the deciding officer, determined that the person concerned had assessable means from employment of €215.58 once the current disregard of €665 was applied. This resulted in a new rate of €58.00 effective 20 January 2022.
The person concerned was notified on 17 January 2022 of this outcome, the reason for it and of their right of review and appeal. To date, the Department has not received a request for a review or an appeal. My officials will arrange for a review of the decision based on the information provided by the Deputy. They will notify the person concerned directly of the outcome of the review once it is completed. It is also open to the person concerned to submit an appeal of the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.
As part of Budget 2022, I was pleased to be able to announce additional measures which will allow carers to have a higher weekly household income and a higher level of savings, and still qualify for a Carer's Allowance payment. These measures, which will take effect from June 2022, include an increase in the income disregard from €332.50 to €350 for a single person and from €665 to €750 for a couple. In addition, the amount of capital disregarded in the means test will be increased from €20,000 to €50,000. These significant changes will mean more carers will now qualify for the payment while those in receipt of a reduced payment will also see increases.
In advance of June 2022, my officials will be reviewing entitlement for those currently on a reduced rate of Carer's Allowance, including the person concerned, to take account of the new budget measures. Any change will be automatically applied to the Carer's Allowance payment of the person concerned from June 2022.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
