Michael Healy-Rae
Question:530. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11643/22]
View answerTuesday, 1 March 2022
Questions (530)
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.
If a person is in receipt of another social welfare payment in their own right (other than unemployment payments or supplementary welfare allowance) or being claimed as a qualified adult on their spouse/partner's payment, a half-rate carer's allowance can be paid too as long as all the normal conditions for receipt of CA are satisfied.
The person concerned is in receipt of CA since 3 December 2015. As the person concerned was also in receipt of One Parent Family Payment (OFP) at the time, CA was paid to her at half-rate from the date of award.
The person concerned contacted the department on 11 December 2020 to advise that she got married and requested that her payment be re-rated to full rate as she would no longer have an entitlement to OFP. While a review of the claim was completed at that time, the rate of CA was not increased to full rate for the person concerned.
An officer is currently undertaking a further review of entitlement for the person concerned, including the request to increase her rate to full rate. As the person concerned has commenced employment, a letter was issued on 10 February 2022 requesting up to date means information. Once this information is received the review will be completed, including the issue of increasing the person's rate from half rate to full rate. The person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.