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Social Welfare Payments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 October 2021

Thursday, 7 October 2021

Questions (39)

Marian Harkin

Question:

39. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to increasing the income disregard for the carer’s allowance until it is in line with average weekly earnings. [48628/21]

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Written answers

The Government acknowledges the important role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. This commitment is recognised in both the Programme for Government and the National Carers’ Strategy. The main income supports provided by my Department include Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance, and the Carer's Support Grant. Over 135,000 carers benefit from regular income supports and spending on these payments in 2021 is expected to be in the region of €1.5 billion. The value of income transfers to family carers has increased by over 50% since 2015.

Carer's Allowance acts as an income support for those who cannot earn adequate income in the open labour market due to their caring responsibilities. This allowance is part of the system of social assistance supports that provide 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. In August, there were 90,207 recipients of Carer's Allowance. The estimated expenditure for the payment this year is in the region of €953 million. The means test for Carer’s Allowance is one of the most generous in the social protection system. Currently, €332.50 of gross weekly income is disregarded in the calculation of means for a single person; the equivalent for someone who is married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting is €665 of combined gross weekly income.By comparison, the income disregard applied to Disability Allowance is €140 per week. Income between €140 and €350 is assessed at 50%. For Jobseeker's Allowance, it is €20 per day up to a maximum of €60, and the balance is assessed at 60%. For Jobseeker's Transitional Payment, the weekly income disregard is €165 with 50% of the balance assessed as means.

In the case of a couple, a carer may retain a full-rate payment of €219.00 per week while having an annual income of €37,500 from employment, retain a payment of (just under half rate) €109.00 per week while having an annual income from employment of €49,750, and retain the minimum payment of €4 per week while having an annual income of €61,000.In the case of a single person, a carer may retain a full-rate payment of €219.00 while having an annual income of just under €19,000, retain a payment of €109.00 per week (just under half rate) while having an annual income of €25,400, or retain the minimum payment of €4 per week while having an annual income of €31,100. 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. Changes to schemes are considered in an overall budgetary and policy context and from an evidence-based perspective. Any improvements or additions to these supports can only be considered in that context and in the light of available financial resources. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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