Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 November 2023
174. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when carer’s allowance might be restored in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50468/23]
View answerCarer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
In order to qualify, applicants must show that they are habitually resident in the State, that their means are less than the statutory limit, that they are providing full-time care and attention and that the person being cared for requires that level of care.
Means are any income belonging to the carer and their spouse / civil partner / cohabitant, property, (except their own home) or an asset that could bring in money or provide them with an income, for example occupational pensions, or pensions or benefits from another country.
The “rent a room” means disregard may apply to Carer’s Allowance applicants who rent out a room in their own home. This allows for up to a limit of €269.23 per week in respect of income from renting a room in their own home to be disregarded. This does not apply to short-term lettings (of less than 28 consecutive days). It also does not apply if you are renting a room to your employee or to an immediate family member. The prescribed conditions for benefitting from this disregard can be found in the Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims, Payments and Control) (Amendment) (No 10) (Income Disregard) Regulation 2022 (SI 397/22), as amended.
Please be advised that unless an individual applies for CA, we cannot say for certain if the person concerned would qualify for a payment, the amount they might receive or whether their means is within the statutory limit.
As the person concerned has not been in receipt of CA since 2018 and there is no application lodged with the Department at this time, a new CR1 Application form has been posted to by the person concerned for completion. If the person in question wishes to make an application, they should complete and return the application form (CR1) to Carer’s Allowance Section in the Social Welfare Services Office, Longford, as soon as possible. Following the receipt of a completed application form and the finalisation of any necessary investigations, the person concerned will be notified directly in writing of the outcome.
I trust this clarifies the position for you at present.
