Niamh Smyth
Question:499. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on a carer support grant application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55170/23]
View answerTuesday, 12 December 2023
Questions (499)
Written answers
The Carer’s Support Grant (CSG) is an annual payment made to full-time carers who satisfy certain conditions.
The person claiming the Grant must:
• Be aged 16 or over and ordinarily resident in this State.
• Care for the person on a full-time basis.
• Care for the person for a continuous period of at least six months – this period must include the first Thursday in June (1st June 2023).
• Live with the person being looked after, or this person can be contacted quickly by a direct system of communication (i.e., a telephone or alarm).
• Not be employed / self-employed for more than 18.5 hours per week.
• Not be in receipt of, or entitled to receive Jobseeker’s Allowance or Jobseeker’s Benefit or be signing for credited contributions.
Additionally, the person being cared for must:
• Be so incapacitated as to need full-time care and attention.
• Not normally live in a hospital, convalescent home, or another similar institution.
• Not receive full-time care and attention within their own home from another person other than the person claiming the Grant.
I can confirm that my Department received an application for CSG from the person concerned on 9 November 2023.
In line with the above, the carer may not be working, self-employed, or on a training or education course for more than 18.5 hours a week.
The person concerned declared working hours of 25.5 hours per week and so the Deciding Officer found that the qualifying conditions were not met.
The person concerned was informed of this decision in a letter dated 7 December 2023 and of their right of review and appeal.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.