Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 February 2022
324. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if the case of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; when their carer’s payment will be revised upwards to the full rate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10663/22]
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.
If a person is in receipt of another social welfare payment in their own right (other than unemployment payments or supplementary welfare allowance) or being claimed as a qualified adult on their spouse/partner's payment, a half-rate carer's allowance can be paid too as long as all the normal conditions for receipt of CA are satisfied.
The person concerned is in receipt of Illness Benefit since 21 February 2020. As a result, CA is being paid to her at half-rate.
The person concerned contacted the department on 24 March 2020 requesting that her payment be re-rated to full rate. As the person was in receipt of Illness Benefit at the time she was not entitled to full-rate CA. Therefore, her payment was not re-rated to full-rate.
If the circumstances of the person concerned changes and she is no longer in receipt of Illness Benefit, she can contact Carer's Allowance who will review her claim and re-rate her CA payment to full-rate. The Department will contact the person concerned directly to clarify the conditions for receipt of full-rate CA.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
