Thomas P. Broughan
Question:47 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number of carer's allowance recipients caring for two or more people. [2680/98]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
The carer's allowance is a social assistance scheme which provides an income maintenance payment to people who are providing elderly or incapacitated pensioners or certain disabled persons with full-time care and attention and whose incomes fall below certain limits.
In June 1997, the allowance for carers who are providing full-time care and attention to more than one person was increased to 150 per cent of their existing entitlement. At the end of December 1997, a total of 10,196 people were in receipt of carer's allowance, of whom 963 were in receipt of the higher rate for caring for more than one person.