Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 June 2018
274. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason there are delays of up to 11 weeks for applications to be processed by the carer's benefit section (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28479/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy 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. Carer's benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce to care for a person(s) in need of full-time care and attention.
At the end of May 2018 the average waiting time for new carer's benefit (CARB) applications was 9 weeks.
To qualify a person has to show that they have the required level of PRSI contributions, that they have left full-time employment, that they are providing full-time care and attention and that the person being cared for has such a disability that they require full-time care and attention.
Schemes that require a high level of documentary evidence from the customer, particularly in the case of disability and caring schemes, can take longer to process.
In some cases the documentary evidence provided at initial application stage is incomplete or insufficient and this can lead to delays in processing.
The Department is beginning a redesign of the CARB application form. It is expected that this new form will allow carers to provide more information on the type and level of care they provide, and more relevant information on their previous employment, which would provide Deciding Officers with the information they need to expedite decisions on entitlement.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
