Brendan Griffin
Question:318. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person in County Kerry (details supplied) can requalify for carer’s benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20561/24]
View answerWednesday, 8 May 2024
Questions (318)
Written answers
Carer's Benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention.
To qualify, the carer must satisfy PRSI conditions, employment conditions, show that they are providing full-time care and attention and show that the care recipient requires full-time care and attention.
CARB is payable to a carer for up to a maximum of 104 weeks in respect of a care recipient. Once the carer claims the full 104 week entitlement in respect of that care recipient, that claim is exhausted and it is not possible for the carer to claim a further CARB payment in respect of that care recipient.
An application for CARB was received from the person concerned on 16 January 2019 in respect of the care recipient. The claim was awarded for 104 weeks for the periods 17 January 2019 to 13 January 2021 following initial award and extension requests.
The person concerned was advised on their extension re-award letter that their maximum entitlement of 104 weeks for the named care recipient was exhausted. This letter also advised that if there still was a requirement for full time care, it is open to the carer to apply for Carer’s Allowance (CA).
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.
An application form for CA has issued to the person concerned. The average processing time for CA currently stands at 5 weeks.
The Carer's Support Grant is an annual payment made to carers who get Carer's Allowance. However, if a person is not in receipt of Carer's Allowance, the Grant can also be paid to certain other carers providing full time care. An application form for the Carer's Support Grant (CSG1) is available at Intreo Centres / Branch Offices or can be downloaded from gov.ie (gov - Carer's Support Grant (www.gov.ie).
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.