Minister Humphreys introduces first changes to the means test for carers in 14 years
- Published on: 1 June 2022
- Last updated on: 9 June 2022
- capital disregard for carers increases from €20,000 to €50,000
- weekly income disregard for Carer’s Allowance increases to €350 for a single person and €750 for a couple
- 121,000 carers and their families receive the €1,850 Annual Carer’s Support Grant this week
Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys has announced a series of improvements to the government’s supports for carers, which will take effect from today.
For the first time in 14 years, Minister Humphreys is introducing changes to the means test that applies to carers so that thousands more can avail of Carer’s Allowance.
Among the measures that will come into effect from today include:
- an increase in the capital disregard for carers from €20,000 to €50,000
- the weekly income disregard for Carer’s Allowance will increase to €350 per week for single carers, and to €750 per week for a couple
In a further measure which will take effect tomorrow (Thursday), Minister Humphreys has announced that the annual Carer’s Support Grant will be paid to some 121,000 carers and their families.
The annual grant of €1,850 was increased by Minister Humphreys in her first budget as Minister for Social Protection.
It is available to all carers providing full-time care to an older person or a person with a disability, regardless of their means or social insurance contributions.
The overall cost of the grant being paid this week is expected to be over €241 million.
Commenting on the changes to the means test, Minister Humphreys said:
“Since my appointment as Minister for Social Protection, I have listened closely to the views of carers the length and breadth of the country.
“Our carers have endured a particularly difficult 2 and a half years, dealing with extraordinary daily challenges posed by the pandemic.
“I am therefore really pleased today to put into effect significant changes to the carer’s means test – the first such changes in 14 years.
“From today, the amount of capital and savings that are disregarded in the means assessment for carers will be increased from €20,000 to €50,000.
“I am also increasing the weekly earnings disregard to €350 for a single person and to €750 a week for a couple.
“These changes are significant and will mean many carers currently on a reduced rate of payment due to means will now qualify for the full rate.
“Equally thousands of carers who may not have qualified for a payment at all up to this point will now be brought into the net.”
Minister Humphreys also confirmed the payment of the €1,850 annual carers support grant tomorrow, adding:
“I am very pleased to also announce that almost 121,000 carers will receive the annual Carer’s Support Grant of €1,850 from Thursday.
“This will be paid automatically to those who are receiving the Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit and those on Domiciliary Care Allowance schemes.
“The Carer’s Support Grant was increased to €1,850 as the first of a number of improvements I have introduced in recognition of the vital role of carers and the contribution they make to society.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank all carers in Ireland for the vital and valuable contribution you play in our society and in all our local communities. Your commitment and work in supporting those that need help and support is hugely important and is greatly appreciated.”
Notes
Carer’s Allowance is a means-tested payment for people living in Ireland who are looking after someone who needs support because of age, physical or learning disability or illness, including mental illness.
Carer’s Allowance is primarily aimed at carers on low incomes who live with and look after certain people who need full-time care and attention. Carer’s Allowance may be paid at half-rate with certain other social welfare payments.
At end of April, there were 90,821 recipients of Carer’s Allowance. The projected expenditure on Carer’s Allowance alone in 2022 is approximately €990 million.
The current income disregard and means test for Carer’s Allowance is the most generous within the social welfare system. The amount of weekly earnings disregarded is €332.50 for a single person and €665 for a couple. In particular, the increase in the general weekly income disregard for a carer who is one of a couple, from €650 to €750, will ensure that income from the carer’s spouse/partner has less of an impact on their Carer’s Allowance payment.
These measures are in addition to a number of improvements Minister Humphreys has made since she came into office, including the increase in the Carer’s Support Grant which is now €1,850, the highest rate since its introduction. Approximately 121, 000 carers will receive the payment later this week.
The period of time for which both Domiciliary Care Allowance and Carer’s Allowance are paid in circumstances where a child is hospitalised on a full-time basis was recently doubled from 13 weeks to 26 weeks introduced by Minister Humphreys.
How to qualify for Carer’s Support Grant
You automatically qualify for the Carer’s Support Grant if you get Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit or Domiciliary Care Allowance.
If you are not getting any of these payments, you may still qualify if you meet these conditions:
- you are 16 or over
- you ordinarily reside in the Irish State
- you care for the person full time
- you have been caring for the person for a continuous period of at least 6 months, and this period includes the first Thursday in June
- you live with the person you are caring for or you are contactable quickly by a direct system of communication such as a telephone or an alarm
You do not qualify for Carer's Support Grant if you are:
- working, self-employed, or on a training or education course for more than 18.5 hours a week. (Note: you must show us that the person you are caring for has adequate care while you are working, on an education course, or both)
- getting Jobseeker's Allowance or Jobseeker's Benefit
- signing on for credited contributions
- living in a hospital, convalescent home or similar institution
If you are caring for more than 1 person, you will get a grant for each person cared for.
The Carer’s Support Grant is exempt from income tax, PRSI and USC.
County breakdown of Carer’s Support Grant recipients follows.
