Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 May 2019
1422. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for a review of the decision to refuse their application for carer's allowance. [18973/19]
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 child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result 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.
It is also a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have such disability 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.
The application for CA was disallowed on the grounds that the person concerned was working outside the home for more than 15 hours per week, that the evidence submitted did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied. The person concerned was also refused CA on the grounds she was not providing full-time care and attention as required.
The person concerned requested a review of this decision on 20 March 2019 and submitted additional evidence in support of her application.
The outcome of the review is that the original decision is confirmed. On 24 April 2019 the person concerned was notified of this outcome and of their right of appeal.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
