Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 January 2024
379. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine the review process by which carers are having their carers allowance reviewed and the invasive nature of the information being requested; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4092/24]
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.
In order to qualify, applicants must show that they are habitually resident in the State, that their means are less than the statutory limit, that they are providing full-time care and attention and that the person being cared for requires full-time care and attention.
For entitlement to exist, these conditions must be satisfied on an on-going basis.
There is an obligation on my Department to ensure that only those who satisfy the conditions receive the payment and the Department must periodically review claims to ensure that there is continued entitlement.
Depending on the circumstances in each case and to make best use of resources, a review may concentrate on a specific condition of entitlement.
Furthermore, a person can at any stage request their own review of their entitlement.
The time taken to conduct a review is dependent on the type of review being carried out and the information available at the time of the request. Some reviews require more detailed investigation and interaction with the customer and this can lengthen the timeframe of the review.
However, at all times every effort is made to complete reviews as quickly as possible.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
