Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 October 2019
633. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will revise the eligibility criteria for carer's benefit in view of the fact that carers may not have full employment records in the 26 weeks prior to formally taking up full-time caring duties (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43509/19]
View answerCarer's Benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce to care for someone in need of full-time care and attention. A person may be eligible for Carer's Benefit if they have enough PRSI contributions. This and other care-related supports, such as the Carer’s Allowance payment and the Carer’s Support Grant, provide recognition and support for the valuable role of carers.
Carer’s Benefit is payable for a maximum period of 104 weeks for each person being cared for. It can be taken in one block or in separate periods as long as the combined total does not exceed 104 weeks. The current weekly rate is €220.00. Where a person is caring for two or more care recipients, the rate of payment is increased by 50%.
At the end of September 2019, there were 2,946 carers in receipt of Carer’s Benefit. Expenditure on Carer’s Benefit in 2018 was €35.93m and is estimated to be €37.83m in 2019.
A basic principle underpinning the Irish social insurance system is the contributory one. Under this principle there is a direct link between the PRSI contributions that a person has paid and entitlement to a varying range of benefits and pensions. Where a person has sufficient PRSI contributions, then benefits and pensions may be paid as of right, where a particular contingency arises and without a means test.
Prior to an amendment to the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2005, to be eligible for CARB an applicant would have to have been in employment for the three-month period prior to application and have been working for at least 17 hours per week or 34 hours per fortnight. This qualifying condition was amended to the current rule whereby an applicant must now be employed for at least 8 weeks, whether consecutive or not, in the previous 26 week period and have been working for at least 16 hours per week or 32 hours per fortnight. This amendment was made to expand the scheme to facilitate certain part-time, seasonal and atypical workers who had difficulty meeting the prior employment related conditions.
I can assure the Deputy that I am very aware of the key role carers play in society and I will continue to keep the range of supports available to carers under review. However, any improvements or additions to these supports can only be considered in a budgetary context and in the light of available financial resources.
I hope this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
