Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 December 2023
372. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection when the increased disregard of income for the carer’s allowance will come into operation, which will see the first €450 of income for a single person and €900 for a couple disregarded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55981/23]
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 Carer’s Allowance is the main scheme by which my department provides income support to carers in the community. Some 95,598 people are supported by this payment.
As part of Budget 2024, the weekly income disregard will be increased from €350 to €450 for a single person, and from €750 to €900 for carers with a spouse/partner. These new disregards will operate from 6 June 2024.
This amounts to cumulative increases to the disregards of €117.50 for a single carer and €235 for a carer who is part of couple, during my time as Minister for Social Protection. It is also worth noting that the capital and savings disregard for the Carer’s Allowance means assessment was also increased last year from €20,000 to €50,000.
Furthermore, I introduced the following additional supports for Carers as part of Budget 2024:-
• In November a €400 a lump sum was paid to people receiving the Carer's Support Grant.
• Last week a Christmas Bonus Double Payment was paid to people in receipt of Carer's Allowance and Carer’s Benefit.
• From January 2024 there will be an increase of €12 in maximum personal rate of weekly carers payments, with proportionate increases for qualified adults and those on reduced rates with an additional €4 increase per child.
• Also, in January 2024 there will be an additional once-off double Cost of Living Support Payment which will be paid to qualifying Social Protection recipients including carers.
• I am also increasing the rate of payment for Domiciliary Care Allowance from by €10 from January 2024.
• I am satisfied that all of these measures will make a real and measurable difference to people who are caring for loved ones. In particular raising the general weekly income disregard will mean that more people who are caring will become eligible for Carer's Allowance.
• I trust that this clarifies this matter for the Deputy.
