Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 October 2023
389. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider removing the 'means-testing' criteria as part of the carer’s allowance application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42128/23]
View answerThe Government acknowledges the valuable role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. This commitment is recognised in both the Programme for Government and the National Carers’ Strategy.
The main income supports to carers provided by my department are Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Spending in 2023 is expected to amount to almost €1.6 billion on these payments.
The two principal conditions for receipt of Carer’s Allowance are that full time care and attention is required and provided, and that a means test is satisfied. The application of the means-test is a statutory requirement. It not only ensures that the recipient has an income need but also that scarce resources are targeted to those with the greatest need. The payment is made in recognition of the fact that these carers are unable to earn a sufficient income due to their caring commitments.
As part of Budget 2022, I introduced measures which allowed carers to have a higher weekly household income and a higher level of savings, and still qualify for a Carer's Allowance payment. These were the first changes to the means test in 14 years.
For carers who work, the weekly income disregard was increased from €332.50 to €350 for a single person, and from €665 to €750 for carers with a spouse/partner.
The capital and savings disregard for the Carer’s Allowance means assessment was increased from €20,000 to €50,000, aligning it with the capital means test for Disability Allowance.
These are the highest income disregards in the social welfare system and mean, in the case of a couple, that earnings of up to €39,000 per annum are disregarded.
Removing the means test for Carer’s Allowance in its entirety would create a new universal social protection scheme for those meeting the scheme’s basic caring condition. Carer's Allowance does not purport to be a payment for care and I do not intend to deviate from the underpinning principle of Carer’s Allowance being an income support payment.
In addition to Carer's Allowance, my department also provides a non-means tested payment to those carers who have to leave the workforce or reduce their hours in the form of Carer’s Benefit. For those providing ongoing care and attention for a child aged under 16 with a severe disability, Domiciliary Care Allowance is available and is also not means-tested.
Furthermore, the annual Carer's Support Grant - which I increased to its highest-ever rate of €1,850 - is also available to carers who are not on a social welfare payment. The grant is paid in a single lump sum annually, usually on the first Thursday in June. The grant is not means-tested and is not taxable and is paid in respect of each care recipient.
Notwithstanding the increased level of support already in place for carers, I have asked my department to keep the current carer supports under review as part of the annual budgetary process.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
