Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 March 2023
146. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for carer's benefit in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11638/23]
View answerCarer's Benefit (CARB) is a 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.
To qualify, the carer must satisfy PRSI conditions; employment conditions; show that they are providing full-time care and attention; and must show that the care recipient requires full-time care and attention.
An application for CARB was received from the person concerned on the 05 December 2022.
The application was disallowed on 13 January 2023 as the evidence provided stated that, although the person concerned was providing a certain level of care to the care recipient, the time involved was not considered to be full time as per Carer's Benefit legislation.
A review of this decision was requested on 24 January 2023 and, based on the further information received, the level of care provided was deemed to be full time. However, as the weekly hours of employment of the person concerned exceeded the maximum 18.5 hours per week, the application remained disallowed.
A second review of this decision was requested on 17 February 2023. The person concerned stated that they had reduced their hours of employment to 18 hours per week from 6 February 2023. On 22 February 2023, the Deciding Officer issued a form to the person concerned for completion by the employer in order to confirm the amended dates of the person's carer's leave.
Once the completed form is received, the application will be reviewed without delay and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
