Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 March 2017
224. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) who applied for carer's allowance in June 2016 will receive their back payment to the date on which they applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10731/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra225. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on whether it is satisfactory that a person (details supplied) has to wait seven months to have their carer's application reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10732/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 224 and 225 together.
My Department received an application for carer's allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 27 January 2016.
CA is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has a disability such that they require that level of care.
A person can be considered to be providing full-time care and attention where they are engaged in employment, self-employment or on training courses outside the home for a maximum of 15 hours per week, provided that they can show to the satisfaction of a deciding officer that adequate care has been provided for the care recipient in their absence.
This application was refused on 26 May 2016 as the person concerned was engaged on a Vocational Training Opportunity Scheme (VTOS) which involved full-time education amounting to 30 hours per week.
The person concerned requested a review of this decision on 30 May 2016 and submitted additional evidence to show that she had ceased education after her exams on 3 May 2016. On foot of this information the decision was revised and CA was awarded from 5 May 2016.
The person concerned was notified on 2 June 2016 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
She requested a further review on 25 July 2016, of the date from which her claim was awarded. Following this review the decision remained unchanged. The person concerned was notified on 24 February 2017 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
My Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible. Reducing these waiting times for new applicants is a priority for my Department. New applications for CA in 2016 increased 20% on 2015. My Department is working hard to reduce the waiting time for reviews as well as new applications.
If the means of a person are insufficient to meet their needs while waiting for the outcome of an application or a request for a review, it is open to them to apply for a means-tested supplementary welfare allowance from their local community welfare service.
In this case, both the person concerned and her cohabitant were in receipt of a weekly social welfare support during the period in question.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
