Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 June 2018
245. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) will qualify for a carer’s allowance in respect of their spouse in the event of reducing their work outside the home to 15 hours per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27345/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for carer’s allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 21 March 2018.
It is a primary condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have a disability whose effect is that they require full-time care and attention.
This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continual supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself and likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months.
It is a further condition for receipt of CA that the carer must be providing full-time care and attention. 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.
The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the deciding officer decided that neither of these conditions were satisfied.
The person concerned was notified on 30 May 2018 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
The person concerned submitted documents in relation to their application on 1 June 2018 and a review of this decision ensued. The outcome of the review is that the original decision is confirmed.
The person concerned was notified on 7 June 2018 of this outcome, the reason for it and of her right of appeal.
A reduction in the hours of employment is not sufficient for this application to succeed. The husband of the person concerned has not been deemed to require full-time care and attention.
In addition, if he was deemed to require full-time care and attention, the person concerned would also need to show to the satisfaction of the department that adequate provision has been made for the care of her husband in her absence.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
