Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 November 2022
447. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) can expect a decision on a review of a carer's allowance application to be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59376/22]
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 are any income belonging to the carer and their spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant, property (except their own home) or an asset that could bring in money or provide them with an income. The means test for Carer’s Allowance has been significantly eased over the years and is now one of the most generous means tests in the Social Welfare system, most notably with regards to a spouse’s earnings.
As part of Budget 2022 the income and capital limits for the Carer’s Allowance means assessment increased effective from 02 June 2022. This includes an increase in the weekly income disregard from €665 to €750 for a couple. In addition, the amount of capital disregarded in the means test increased from €20,000 to €50,000.
In advance of the implementation of the above Budget measures, the Department initiated a review of Carer’s Allowance recipients who were in receipt of a reduced rate payment in order to determine how these measures might impact on their rate of payment. In many cases, recipients’ payments were increased as a result of the Budget measures. In other cases, including the case of the person concerned, recipients’ payments were reduced, not because of the Budget measures but because of an increase in household income.
As the person concerned was receipt of a reduced weekly payment following their last means assessment conducted on 20 September 2018, a review of their claim was initiated on 12 February 2022.
A response was received from the person concerned on 15 March 2022. Based on the information provided, the Deciding Officer (DO) requested additional information on 4 May 2022.
It is a condition for receipt of CA that every claimant shall furnish such certificates, documents, information and evidence as may be required for the purposes of deciding the claim and attends at such office or place as an officer may direct.
The person concerned failed to provide the DO with information that was required to determine if their means were below the statutory limit. As the requested information was not supplied, it was decided that the person concerned was not entitled to CA and the claim was terminated with effect from 2 June 2022. The person concerned was notified on 25 May 2022 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
The person concerned requested a review of this decision on 31 May 2022. On 14 June 2022, the matter was referred to a local Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of CA are satisfied.
On foot of the report of the SWI, the DO decided that the means of the person concerned were not less than the statutory limit and that they were therefore not entitled to CA.
The person concerned was notified on 19 August 2022 of the outcome of this review, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
The person concerned requested a further review on 1 Sept 2022 and submitted additional evidence in support of their application.
Following this review, the decision of 19 August 2022 remained unchanged. The person concerned was notified on 14 September 2022 of the review outcome, the reason for it and of their right of review and appeal.
The department were notified on 14 October 2022 that the person concerned had appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). On 24 November 2022, the file was forwarded to the SWAO for their independent determination.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
