Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 September 2012
789. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the percentage of applications for the domiciliary care allowance that were refused each year for the past five years; the number of refusals that were overturned following appeal; the main reason for refusal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38551/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department has been accepting new claims for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) since 1st April 2009. Statistics relating to the allowance for the period prior to April 2009 are a matter for the HSE, the previous administrators of the scheme.
The number of applicants for DCA that were received, awarded and refused in each year from April 2009 to August 2012 is set out in table 1.
Table 1 - Domiciliary Care Allowance applications – April 2009 to August 2012
|
Year |
Applications received |
Applications fully processed in year |
Applications allowed incl. on review* |
Applications disallowed |
|
2009 (from 1st April) |
3,389 |
2,823 |
1,220 |
1,603 |
|
2010 |
5,457 |
5,333 |
2,576 |
2,757 |
|
2011 |
5,525 |
5,396 |
2,502 |
2,894 |
|
2012 (to 31st August) |
3,022 |
3,421 |
1,511 |
1,910 |
|
Total |
17,393 |
16,973 |
7,809 |
9,164 |
(*Includes cases initially disallowed but allowed on review following receipt of additional information ).
Overall, some 54% of applications processed in the period April 2009 to August 2012 were disallowed, with 46% awarded.
The overall number of appeals received, awarded and refused in each year from April 2009 to August 2012 is set out in table 2.
Table 2 - Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals - April 2009 to August 2012*
|
Year |
Appeals registered |
Appeals revised/ withdrawn /cancelled |
Appeals allowed |
Appeals disallowed |
Appeals partially allowed |
|
2009 |
836 |
50 |
6 |
5 |
0 |
|
2010 |
1827 |
609 |
221 |
417 |
14 |
|
2011 |
2322 |
476 |
798 |
1109 |
37 |
|
2012 |
1455 |
418 |
577 |
587 |
19 |
|
Total |
6440 |
1553 |
1602 |
2118 |
70 |
*supplied by Social Welfare Appeals Office
The main reason that a parent/guardian does not qualify for payment of DCA is that the child does not satisfy the medical criteria for the allowance. In order to qualify for DCA, a child must have a disability so severe that it requires the child needing care and attention substantially in excess of another child of the same age without the disability and must be likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 months. Qualification for the scheme is not based on the particular disability of the child but on the level of additional care required because of the disability.
