John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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217. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if full carer’s allowance will be approved and back dated in the case of a person (details supplied) as they are currently on half carer's; and if the matter will be expedited. [23400/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Carer'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 are being claimed as a qualified adult on their spouse/partner's payment, CA can be paid at half-rate as long as all the normal conditions for receipt of CA are satisfied.

The person concerned has been in receipt of half-rate CA since 18 April 2019 as they were also in receipt of a primary payment in their own right from this Department.

Following a request to review the rate of CA, a reassessment of means was initiated.

Additional information was requested from the person concerned on 21 May 2024. Once the information is received, the means assessment will be processed without delay and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.