Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 September 2020
660. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection if the means test threshold relating to the carer’s allowance will be reviewed in cases in which carers find themselves outside of the cut off rate in view of the fact no consideration is given to their weekly and monthly commitments while they provide 24/7 care with no available support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21185/20]
View answerThe main income supports for carers provided by my Department are Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. The projected expenditure on Carer’s Allowance in 2020 is approximately €919 million. Combined spending on all these payments to carers in 2020 is expected to exceed €1.3 billion.
Carer's Allowance is a means tested payment made to people whose income falls below certain limits, and who are looking after certain people in need of full-time care and attention.
The system of social assistance supports provides payments based on an income need. The means test plays a critical role in determining whether or not an income need arises as a consequence of a particular contingency – such as disability, unemployment or caring. This ensures that the recipient has a verifiable income need and that resources are targeted to those who need them most.
Current disregards for Carer’s Allowance are €332.50 per week for a single person and €665 per week for a couple, making the means test for carers the least onerous within the social protection system.
A couple earning a joint annual income of up to €37,500 (net of PRSI and other allowable deductions) can qualify for maximum payment and, given the tapered withdrawal approach, retain a payment of just under half-rate while earning €49,750. A single person may retain a full-rate payment while having an annual income of just under €19,000, and retain a payment of just under half-rate while having an annual income of €25,400.
Changes to schemes are considered in an overall budgetary and policy context and from an evidence based perspective. Some 86% of the current recipients of Carer’s Allowance have no means or means of less than €7.60 per week and would not benefit by an increase in the disregard.
Carers who would benefit from an increased disregard would be in higher income households and the Deputy will appreciate the need to target available resources fairly and equitably to those in most need, I can assure the Deputy that I am very much aware of the key role that family carers play in our society and I will continue to keep the range of supports available to carers under review.
Finally, any changes to scheme criteria would have implications for overall spending and would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context.
