Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
2528. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will examine the case of a person (details supplied); the paths open to the person to appeal this decision on the basis that it seemed to be a temporary admittance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34083/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer'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 person who has such a disability that they require that level of care.
One of the qualifying conditions for receipt of CA is that the carer must provide full-time care and attention to the care recipient. CA recipients are also required to immediately notify the Department of changes in their circumstances.
A person can be considered to be providing full-time care and attention where either the carer or care recipient is undergoing medical or other treatment of a temporary nature in an institution such as a hospital, convalescent, nursing or care home for a period not exceeding 13 weeks.
CA was awarded to the person concerned from 2 August 2007 in respect of his aunt.
The care recipient entered permanent residential care in a nursing home on 16 December 2013. However my Department was not notified of this until March 2014. This resulted in an overpayment being assessed for the period 19 December 2013 to 19 March 2014.
The person concerned was notified on 24 April 2014 of this decision, the reason for it and of his right of review and appeal.
No appeal was received in relation to same.
Accordingly my Department’s Debt Recovery Unit wrote to the person concerned on 7 March 2015, proposing to recover the debt by way of weekly deduction from his Jobseekers Allowance.
The person concerned is actively repaying his debt to my Department at present. The department is obliged to seek recovery of debts owed to it as quickly as possible, having due regard to the circumstances of the debtor and as a result the agreed proposal will remain in place until the debt owing is paid in full.
However, my Department will examine whether the person concerned had an underlying entitlement to another social welfare payment while he continued to receive CA and whether such an entitlement may be offset against the CA debt.
The person concerned will be notified of the outcome of that review.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
