Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 December 2023
488. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if the 2023 carer’s support grant will be paid to a person in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54937/23]
View answerCarer's Benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention.
To qualify, the carer must satisfy PRSI conditions; employment conditions; show that they are providing full-time care and attention; and show that the care recipient requires full-time care and attention.
The person concerned was awarded CARB from 17 August 2023.
Carers who are in receipt of, or entitled to receive, Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit or Domiciliary Care Allowance on the first Thursday in June are paid the Carers Support Grant (CSG) automatically on that date.
As the person concerned was awarded Carer's Benefit after the CSG issue date of 1 June 2023, they would not be automatically entitled to the 2023 CSG through this scheme. The CSG will automatically issue to the person concerned in 2024 and 2025 once they are in receipt of CARB on the relevant CSG issue dates for those years.
A carer who is not in receipt of one of these payments on the first Thursday of June may still qualify for the standalone Carer’s Support Grant and must complete the appropriate application form to be considered for that scheme.
Some of the qualifying conditions for the standalone CSG include the following:
The Carer must:
• be aged 16 or over;
• be ordinarily resident in the State;
• care for the person on a full-time basis and be providing care for the person for at least six months. This period of care must include the first Thursday in June;
• not be employed or self-employed for more than 18.5 hours per week;
• not be attending a training or educational course for more than 18.5 hours per week;
• not be in receipt of Jobseeker's Benefit or Allowance or be signing for credited contributions.
An application form for the standalone Carers Support Grant has issued to the person concerned. If the person wishes to apply for the standalone CSG for 2023, the medical report section is not required to be completed as they have been deemed eligible through the CARB scheme.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
