Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2022
67. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department is carrying out means assessment reviews of carers given that the new arrangements of Budget 2022 are being introduced in June 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14853/22]
View answerThe Government recognises the crucial role that family carers play in Irish society and is fully committed to their support.
As part of Budget 2022, improvements were introduced to the income and capital limits for the Carer’s Allowance (CA) means assessment, effective from June 2022. The weekly income disregard increases to €350 from €332.50 for a single person, and to €750 from €665 for carers with a spouse/partner. The Carers Allowance disregard when assessing capital increases to €50,000 from €20,000.
These measures bring significant changes to the Carer's means assessment and is the first time there have been changes to the means assessment in almost 14 years. These changes will mean that more Carers will now qualify for Carer’s Allowance, while those Carers that are currently in receipt of a reduced rate will see increases in their payments.
To accurately assess CA customers means, it is necessary to obtain up to date income and capital information and to review existing CA entitlement to ensure that the Budget 2022 changes are applied correctly and that people are issued with the correct rate of payment in line with the improvements we are making to the means test.
The Budget 2022 improvements will benefit thousands of Carers currently on a reduced rate due to means and will enable more carers with modest incomes to qualify for Carer’s Allowance
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
