Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2021
367. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether it is fair that a woman who is in receipt of a widow's pension is only entitled to a half carer’s payment despite the fact she is caring for her daughter full-time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60165/21]
View answerMy Department provides a comprehensive set of income supports for carers. These include Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance, and the Carer's Support Grant. Through these schemes over 135,000 carers are supported by regular income payments. Spending in 2021 on these payments is expected to be approximately €1.5 billion.
There are a number of basic principles which underpin the Irish social insurance system, one of which is the general principle of one person, one payment, which applies across the social welfare system. People qualifying for two social welfare payments receive the higher payment for which they are eligible.
There are a limited number of exceptions in the social insurance system to the general principle of one person, one payment. In 2007 a half-rate Carer’s Allowance was introduced for certain people with another social welfare entitlement. Under these arrangements, people in receipt of certain social welfare payments (other than Carer’s Allowance or Benefit) who are providing full-time care and attention can retain their main payment and receive another payment, depending on their means, the maximum of which is equivalent to a half-rate Carer’s Allowance. Therefore, a person who has an entitlement to another social welfare payment, (for example Widow’s Pension) can retain that payment and continue to receive up to a half-rate Carer’s Allowance. These arrangements apply to almost all weekly social welfare payments and to people in receipt of qualified adult allowances. Recipients of Jobseeker’s Allowance or Benefit are not eligible given the job seeking nature of these payments.
It should be noted that payment of the Carer’s Support Grant is not dependent on means or social insurance contributions. This grant is paid automatically to people getting Carer’s Allowance (both at full rate and half-rate), Carer’s Benefit or Domiciliary Care Allowance. Where an individual is not getting one of these payments, they can still qualify for the Carer’s Support Grant, providing they meet the qualifying criteria including the provision of full-time care and attention. In recognition of the vital role that carers provide in our society, I increased the Carer’s Support Grant by €150 as part of Budget 2021. The current new rate of €1,850 is the highest ever rate at which it has been paid since its introduction. Spending on the Carer’s Support Grant is estimated to cost over €265 million in 2021.
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. However, to pay full-rate Carer's Allowance along with another social welfare payment, as suggested, would involve a very significant step away from the 'one person, one payment' approach outlined earler, would involve significant additional expenditure and could only be considered in an overall Budgetary context.
