Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 September 2024
258. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for carer’s allowance that were lodged, the number approved, the number initially refused, the number refused on review, the number then appealed to the Social Welfare Appeals Office, and the number of those appeals that were upheld or rejected, in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37348/24]
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.
The tables below show the number of CA applications received, awarded, and disallowed for 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024:
|
Number of applications received |
Number of applications awarded |
Number initially disallowed |
Number disallowed following review |
|
|
2022 |
22,781 |
14,921 |
8,874 |
1,241 |
|
2023 |
22,633 |
17,333 |
9,191 |
1,684 |
|
2024 (to 31/08/2024) |
15,346 |
11,047 |
5,786 |
990 |
Please note that the statistics in relation to awarded and disallowed cases include cases that may have been received in a preceding year.
Where an applicant's CA claim is initially disallowed, they have the option to request a review of this decision. This allows the applicant to present additional documentation / evidence where this is available. Considering the new evidence, it is possible that the initial decision could be overturned by a Deciding Officer (DO). This review process ensures that every applicant receives a fair evaluation of their circumstances, acknowledging that their circumstances or the circumstance of the care recipient may not have been fully captured at the initial application stage.
If an applicant is dissatisfied with the outcome of their review, they have the option to refer the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO).
The table below shows the number of CA appeals received, allowed, partially allowed or disallowed by the SWAO for 2022, 2023 & to date in 2024:
|
Year |
Appeals Received |
Appeals Allowed |
Appeals Partly Allowed |
Appeals Disallowed |
|
2022 |
3,521 |
804 |
67 |
1,953 |
|
2023 |
3,048 |
680 |
52 |
1,506 |
|
2024 (to 31/08/2024) |
2,434 |
399 |
47 |
1,237 |
Appeals that had a favourable outcome for the appellant consist of appeals that were either allowed in full or in part by an Appeals Officer, or that were resolved by way of a revised decision in favour of the appellant by a DO.
There are a number of reasons why a decision that was refused at first instance might be successful on appeal and it is not necessarily the case that the first decision was incorrect. It is often the case that new evidence is provided with an appeal and that, as a result, the original decision may be revised by the DO.
Where the decision was not revised by the Department in light of the appeal contentions, further evidence is often provided by the appellant as the appeal process proceeds.
I hope this information is of assistance to the Deputy.
