Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 December 2023
491. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on a carer's allowance application for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54962/23]
View answerCarer'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.
An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 4 August 2022.
To qualify for CA the person being cared for must be:
• over the age of 16 and so incapacitated as to require full-time care and attention
or
• aged under 16 and getting a Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA)
The CA application was disallowed on 5 January 2023 as the person being cared for was aged under 16 and DCA was not in payment. The DCA has since been awarded.
The application was referred back to a local Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) on 14 October 2023 to assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of CA are satisfied.
Following the SWI report, CA was awarded to the person concerned on 8 December 2023 with effect from 7 April 2022 and the first payment will issue to their nominated bank account on 14 December 2023.
Arrears for the period 17 April 2022 to 13 December 2023 will issue shortly.
The person concerned was notified on 8 December 2023 of this decision, the reason for it and of their right of review and appeal.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
