Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
910. 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. [17191/23]
View answerCarer's Benefit 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. Carer’s Benefit is payable to a carer for up to a maximum of 104 weeks in respect of a care recipient.
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 Carers Benefit was received from the person concerned on 6 December 2022 .
The application was disallowed as the person concerned was deemed not to be meeting the threshold of full time care based on the information provided by the person concerned. A decision letter to this effect was issued on 13 January 2023.
A request to review the initial decision with supplementary information was received on 25 January 2023. Following this review, it was decided that the person concerned was deemed to be meeting the threshold of providing full time care. However, the claim for Carer' Benefit was disallowed as the person concerned was in employment in-excess of the maximum 18.5 hours weekly allowable to be in receipt of Carer’s Benefit. A decision letter issued to this effect on 8 February 2023.
A further review request with supplementary information was received on 17 February 2023. Following this review, it was decided to award Carers Benefit from 9 February 2023. A notification of award letter was issued on 21 March 2023 to the person concerned advising them of the dates that the claim payment starts and ends and included a list of circumstances which may affect their right to a Carers Benefit payment.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
