Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 October 2023
158. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection if, with regard to the 18.5 hours per week limited allowed to work or study in order to qualify for carer’s allowance, she acknowledges that this would exclude most part-time jobs or part-time course, as these usually are minimum 20 hours per week; if the 18.5 hours limit could be increased to allow for carers to take up part-time work or to upskill with part-time courses. [43098/23]
View answerMy Department provides a comprehensive package of carers’ income supports including Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Combined spending on these payments in 2023 is estimated at almost €1.6 billion.
A primary qualifying condition for the carer income support payments provided by my department is that the applicant provides full-time care and attention to a person in need of such a level of care. The person being cared for must be so incapacitated as to require full-time care and attention and be likely to require this full-time care and attention for at least 12 months.
The minimum hours condition for which a carer can be regarded as providing full-time care and attention is set out in legislation. A carer will be regarded as providing full-time care and attention to a relevant person, where the number of hours providing such care is not less than 35 hours in a period of 7 consecutive days, and care is provided on any 5 days, whether consecutive or not, within a period of 7 consecutive days.
The provision of full-time care and attention requirement is moderated somewhat by allowing a carer to work or engage in education or training for up to 18.5 hours a week. Budget 2020 increased this limit from 15 to 18.5 hours. This measure was prioritised in response to the carers who expressed that they found 15 hours to be too restrictive, not only for work but for education and training purposes.
During any period of employment or education or training, adequate provision must be made for the care of the relevant person. It is considered that the current hours condition represents a reasonable balance between meeting the requirement for providing full-time care for the care recipient and the needs of the carer to engage in employment, training or education. It also serves the additional purpose of reducing the social alienation experienced by many carers.
Finally, it is worth noting that each additional hour in work, education and training by a person in receipt of carers allowance equates to an hour less care provided to the caree. Increasing the hours limit could undermine the purpose of the payment, which is to support those giving care and attention on a full-time basis.
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
