Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 January 2023
402. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the way arrears for disability allowance and carer's allowance have been calculated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3162/23]
View answerI can confirm that my department received an application for disability allowance (DA) from the person concerned on 15 September 2022 and an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 20 September 2022.
The person concerned has been awarded full rate carers allowance with effect from 22 September 2022. The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 25 October 2022. The first payment was made by their chosen payment method on 03 November 2022.
The person concerned has been awarded disability allowance with effect from 21 September 2022. The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 01 December 2022. The first payment was made by their chosen payment method on 11 January 2023.
If a person is in receipt of another social welfare payment, excluding unemployment payments or supplementary welfare allowance, and satisfies the conditions for carers allowance, half rate carer's allowance is payable alongside their existing payment.
As the person concerned was awarded DA from 21 September 2022 their CA claim had to be re-rated to half rate from that date which resulted in an overpayment.
The arrears were less an adjustment applied in respect of an overlapping payment of carers allowance as the person concerned was being paid a full rate for the respective period 22 September 2022 to 18 January 2023 and for an overlapping payment of supplementary welfare allowance as the person concerned has been paid this for the respective period 22 September 2022 to 09 November 2022.
Arrears of disability allowance of €502.70 due from 21 September 2022 to 10 January 2023 issued to the person concerned on 18 January 2023 by her chosen payment method. A letter notifying her that arrears would issue was sent to her home address on 12 January 2023.
Arrears of carer’s allowance of €1,568.00 have issued to the person concerned on 20 January 2023. This amount consists of full rate CA (€224.00 per week) for the period from 22 September 2022 to 2 November 2022.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.
