Seán Canney
Question:312. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if support and advice will be provided in the case of a person (details supplied). [5690/22]
View answerThursday, 3 February 2022
Questions (312)
Written answers
Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
The person concerned is in receipt of CA in respect of his care recipient since 19 March 2015 and currently receives CA for one care recipient and two qualified children.
No means are assessed against the person concerned at this time and they are in receipt of their full entitlement of CA.
As part of Budget 2022, the rate of CA increased by €5 to €224.00 per week, and the qualified child half rate increased by €1 to €20 for under 12’s and by €2.50 to €24 for over 12’s per week. These increases came into effect in January.
Where appropriate and where possible it is open to the person concerned to engage in employment, self-employment or a training or education course for a maximum of 18.5 hours per week, provided that they can show to the satisfaction of a deciding officer that adequate care has been provided for the care recipient in their absence.
If the person concerned is experiencing financial difficulties, they should contact their local Intreo Centre to discuss their options. They may apply for a payment under the Department’s Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme.
Under the SWA scheme, an exceptional needs payment can be made to a person to help them meet essential, once-off expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. There is no automatic entitlement to this payment. Each application is decided on the circumstances of the case.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Question No. 313 answered with Question No. 302.
Question No. 314 answered with Question No. 302.