John McGuinness
Ceist:255. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a domiciliary care allowance will be approved and backdated for a person (details supplied). [58573/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 24 November 2022
Ceisteanna (255)
Freagraí scríofa
Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly payment in respect of a child, aged under 16 with a severe disability who requires ongoing continual or continuous care and attention substantially over and above the care and attention normally required by children of the same age and the child must be likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 consecutive months.
An application for DCA in respect of their child was received from the spouse/partner of the person concerned on 22 April 2022. A deciding officer disallowed the claim as per decision dated 13 June 2022, as the child concerned was not considered to satisfy the qualifying conditions for DCA.
The applicant requested an appeal of the Department's decision.
As part of the appeal process their DCA application, including the further information that was provided by the applicant in support of their appeal, was reviewed by a deciding officer.
Following a review dated 5 August 2022, the deciding officer having re-examined the complete application, including the further supporting information that was provided by the applicant in support of the appeal, while also considering the opinion of a departmental medical assessor decided that a revision of the original decision of 13 June 2022 was not warranted.
The applicant's DCA appeal file (Ref No 22/12480) was subsequently referred to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) on 11 August 2022, for further consideration by an appeals officer. The SWAO has confirmed that this case is currently assigned to an appeals officer and is awaiting a decision. The applicant will be notified directly of the outcome of their appeal in due course.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.