Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 September 2022
384. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that carers who apply for carer's allowance do not have their spouse's travel-to-work income included in the means assessment where the spouse has availed of the cycle-to-work scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45852/22]
View answerThe system of social assistance supports provides 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.
A travel expenses disregard is included in the Carer's Allowance means test on an administrative basis. Where an allowance in regard to travel is already in place, such as a car allowance or the cycle to work scheme, the travel expenses disregard in the means test is not applied.
I acknowledge the crucial role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. That is why I introduced significant improvements to the means test for Carer’s Allowance, which were announced as part of Budget 2022 and came into effect in from June.
The general weekly income disregard for Carer's Allowance was increased from €332.50 to €350 for a single person, and from €665 to €750 for a couple. This enabled more carers to become eligible for the scheme, and those currently in receipt of a reduced payment may now receive a higher payment.
The capital disregard was also increased from €20,000 to €50,000. This allows carers who have accumulated savings, often to provide care for a loved one, to retain an entitlement to Carer's Allowance.
In addition to these changes to the means test, all recipients of a weekly carers saw their payment increase by €5 per week from the beginning of January. Those with children will also have benefitted from an increase in the qualified child payment - €2 increase for children under the age of 12, and €3 for children aged 12 and over - bringing these payments to €40 and €48 per week respectively.
Any further changes to the means test for Carer’s Allowance would have to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.
