Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 July 2013
130. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection the actions being devised to protect long-term and older carers in relation to their pensions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34032/13]
View answerThere are a number of support systems in place for long term and older carers in relation to State Pension. Persons in receipt of carer’s benefit from my Department may be entitled to credited contributions or ‘credits’. Credits are intended to protect the entitlements, particularly to pension rights of employees participating in the social insurance when they are ill or unemployed. A person who is providing full time care and attention as a carer is awarded credits on the same basis as if they were out of the workforce due to illness or unemployment.
For those who are not entitled to credits including those in receipt of carers allowance can, if eligible, avail of the homemakers scheme which helps to provide a higher rate of pension for those who meet the qualifying conditions. The homemaker scheme comprises a period of disregard when calculating eligibility for a State Pension, so time taken out for caring duties for those who qualify for the scheme, can be disregarded when assessment is being made for State Pension.
The scheme was introduced in and took effect from 1994, and allows up to 20 years spent caring to be disregarded when a person’s social insurance record is being averaged for pension purposes. It impacts on women in particular as it assists them to qualify for a State Pension (contributory) by recognising periods spent caring for children or incapacitated persons. The homemaker disregard will not, of itself, qualify a person for a pension. Eligibility for the homemaker’s scheme is conditional on firstly meeting the standard qualifying conditions for State Pension.
When pension is calculated, regard is given to the full rate carer’s allowance and the payment which is more beneficial to the customer is awarded. In addition, for those who qualify, the half rate carers allowance continues to be available for those in receipt of State pension. In addition, further supports continue to be made available to older carers in the form of the household benefits package and the free travel pass. Finally, for those who do not qualify for the State pension, the means tested non-contributory pension will continue to be available to those with an income need.
