Carer’s Benefit is a payment made to insured people who may be required to leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a person(s) in need of full time care.
It is payable for a period of 2 years (104 weeks) for each care recipient and may be claimed over separate periods up to a total of 2 years (104 weeks).
From January 2022:
The weekly payment rate for Carer's Benefit increased by €5.
From June 2022:
The maximum you can earn is €350.00 a week after taxes. Prior to June 2022 the maximum you could earn was €332.50
You may qualify for Carer’s Benefit if you meet these requirements:
- you are over 16 years old
- you have been employed for at least eight weeks, whether consecutive or not, in the previous 26-week period of commencing Carer's leave
- you are/were working for a minimum of 16 hours per week or 32 hours per fortnight within the previous 26 week period. You do not have to meet this condition if you were getting Carer’s Benefit in the previous 26 weeks
- the care recipient must have a disability that meets the full-time care and attention requirements as set out in section 99 [2] of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005
- the maximum you earn is €350.00 a week after taxes (the maximum you could earn prior to 2 June 2022 was €332.50)
- you must not take part in employment, self-employment, voluntary work, training or education courses which accumulate to more than 18.5 hours a week.
- you do not live in a hospital, convalescent home or other similar institution
- you meet the social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions
- being a full-time carer means you must be living with, or in a position to provide full-time care and attention to, a person who needs care. The care recipient cannot live in a hospital, convalescent home or other similar institution
You may be able to get Carer’s Benefit if you care for a child who qualifies for Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA). You do not have to be the person who gets the allowance for the child to be the child’s carer.
If you are away, you must be able to arrange adequate full-time care and attention for the person you care for.
A person is regarded as requiring full-time care and attention when:
- they need continual supervision to avoid danger to themselves
or
- they need continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions, and
- they are likely to require full-time care and attention
You can get Carer’s Benefit for up to 104 weeks for each person you care for.
You can claim your payment in a single period or in separate periods for up to 104 weeks. If you claim Carer’s Benefit for less than six weeks in a row in any period, you must wait for a further six weeks before you can claim Carer’s Benefit to care for the same person again.
If you are caring for more than one person, you may get a payment for 104 weeks for each person you care for. This may result in the care periods overlapping or running at the same time (concurrently).
Carer’s Benefit is €225 a week for 1 care recipient.
A person caring for two or more people may receive a higher rate of €337.50 a week.
If you have a child/children you may be entitled to apply for an Increase for a Qualified Child.
It is recommended that you apply for Carer’s Benefit at least 6 weeks before you plan to leave work.
To apply, fill in the form, including a doctor’s medical report that is also signed by the person you will be caring for.
You do not need a medical report if you are caring for a child getting Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA).
Return the application form at the end of this page, and the relevant supporting documentation, to:
Carer's Benefit Section
Address:
Social Welfare Services Office, Government Buildings, Ballinalee Road, Longford, Co. Longford, N39 E4E0
Website:
Email:
Phone number:
Operational guidelines describe the processes and procedures that staff in the department follow when carrying out their work.
