Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
Richard Bruton
Question:
330
Mr. R. Bruton
asked the
Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs
if he will review the carer's allowance rules that insist that a person being cared for must be resident with the carer every day in order to qualify for carer's allowance, where the carer of a person who has a very high level of care needs and is receiving up to three days per week regular respite care, could still receive carer's allowance; and if he will state the free schemes that apply to carers.
[18019/00]
Seán Haughey
Question:
334
Mr. Haughey
asked the
Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs
the measures he has taken to improve the position of carers; his plans in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 330 and 334 together.
At the end of May 2000, there were 15,380 carer's allowances in payment. When this Government came to office three years ago, there were approximately 9,200 people in receipt of carer's allowance. This represents an increase of 67% in the number of carers receiving the allow ance during that period. Again when this Government came to office in 1997, expenditure on carer's allowance was £36.5 million and is projected to be £78.3 million this year, an increase of 115%.
Following a detailed examination of the review of the carer's allowance, which was published by my Department in October 1998, a range of measures have been introduced in the last two budgets to improve and develop the position of carers, as follows:
April 1999 – extension of the free travel scheme to carers caring for people in receipt of constant attendance or prescribed relatives allowance; credited contributions to be awarded to eligible carers and to carers caring for people in receipt of constant attendance or prescribed relatives allowance.
June 1999 – rate increase; annual payment of £200 towards respite care.
August 1999 – extension of carer's allowance to carers of those between 16 and 65 years and to those caring for recipients of domiciliary care allowance; extension of free telephone rental allowance to carers in receipt of carer's allowance and to carers caring for people in receipt of constant attendance or prescribed relatives allowance; application of £75 means disregard to the income of a single carer and £150 to the joint income of a married carer; relaxation of residency rule; relaxation of full-time care and attention rule to allow carers in receipt of carer's allowance to take up paid employment for up to ten hours per week.
April 2000 – carers getting carer's allowance or caring for people getting constant attendance or prescribed relatives allowance no longer required to satisfy 13 paid contribution rule when claiming disability benefit.
May 2000 – rate increase.
June 2000 – annual respite care grant to be increased by £100 to £300.
September 2000 – back to education allowance scheme to be extended to carers after ceasing caring responsibilities.
October 2000 – introduction of carer's benefit scheme; free electricity allowance and free television licence schemes to be extended to carers in receipt of a carer's allowance and to those caring for people in receipt of constant attendance or prescribed relatives allowance. These extensions ensure that carers will qualify for all free schemes from October.
The review considered that the objectives of the carer's allowance scheme are designed for full-time carers and that part-time caring situations envisaged by the Deputy were not, therefore, covered by these objectives.
As is clear from the many improvements which have been made in recent budgets, the position of carers is being kept under review. Further changes will be considered in the context of our
key priorities in the care area, as set out in the review of our action programme.
