Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 February 2013
217. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the carer’s allowance in relation to who qualifies; and if she will clarify the changes that have been made since budget 2013. [7916/13]
View answerThere was no change to carer’s allowance or half-rate carer’s allowance in Budget 2013. Carer's allowance is a means tested payment for people who are providing full time care and attention to a person who needs that level of care. Since September 2007, if a person is getting certain social welfare payments and also providing full time care and attention to another person, they can keep their main social welfare payment and also get a half-rate carer's allowance.
The income disregard and means test for carers is the most generous within the social welfare system. A couple under 66 with two children, earning a joint annual income of up to €35,400 can qualify for maximum payment carer’s allowance while such a couple earning €59,300 will still qualify for the minimum rate and may also qualify for the household benefits package.
There are currently over 52,000 people in receipt of a carer’s allowance payment. The expected expenditure for the scheme in 2013 is €509 million. Of those in receipt of carer’s allowance over 23,000 are getting half-rate carer’s allowance in addition to another social welfare payment at an annual cost of some €90 million. All carer’s allowance recipients are entitled to the annual respite care grant and a free travel pass. The number in receipt of a carer’s allowance payment from the Department has increased by more than 150% in the last 10 years from 20,000 in 2001 to 52,000 in 2012. Expenditure on the carer’s allowance scheme has increased by almost 220% in the same period.
The rate of the annual respite care grant was reduced from €1,700 to €1,350 in the Budget. This grant is paid automatically to all those in receipt of carer’s allowance, carer’s benefit and domiciliary care allowance in June of each year. The grant is not means tested and is also available to those people who are not in receipt of one of the above payments but are providing full-time care and attention to a person who needs this care. The estimated expenditure on the respite care grant in 2013 is €110 million.
