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Social Welfare Benefits

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 February 2022

Thursday, 3 February 2022

Questions (7, 92)

Verona Murphy

Question:

7. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department plans to increase the level of income disregard for the carer’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5454/22]

View answer

Emer Higgins

Question:

92. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection when the changes for the carer’s allowance means test will come into effect; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5100/22]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 92 together.

The Government recognises the important role that family carers play in Irish society and is fully committed to their support through a range of supports and services. The main income supports to carers provided by my Department include Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance, and the Carer's Support Grant. Spending on these payments in 2022 is expected to exceed €1.5 billion.

The current income disregard and means test for Carer’s Allowance is the most generous within the social welfare system. The amount of weekly earnings disregarded is €332.50 for a single person and €665 for a couple. In acknowledgement of the crucial role that family carers play in our society I introduced a number of measures as part of Budget 2022 in relation to supports provided by my Department. These include the following changes to the carer means test which will take effect in June:

- An increase in the weekly income disregard for Carer’s Allowance to €350 a week for single carers and to €750 for carers with a spouse/partner,

- An increase in the Capital/Savings disregard for Carer’s Allowance from €20,000 to €50,000.

A more generous means assessment for Carer’s Allowance has been called for over successive Budgets by organisations representing carers. An increase in the general weekly income disregard will enable more carers with modest incomes to become eligible for Carer’s Allowance, and therefore provide an income support to carers, whose earning capacity is significantly constrained as a consequence of their caring responsibilities.Increasing the capital disregard will allow carers who have accumulated relatively modest savings, often to provide sufficient moneys to care for a loved one, to retain these savings without it impacting upon their carer’s payment. It also brings the capital formula applied to savings in the means assessment for Carer’s Allowance in line with Disability Allowance.

Notwithstanding the increased level of support already in place for carers, my Department will keep these measures under review as part of the annual budgetary process.

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