Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 February 2024
233. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if supports exist for self employed persons with children with special/additional needs; if so, the qualifying criteria; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6739/24]
View answerThe key role of my department is to provide income support where an income need arises because of a particular contingency – be that illness, disability, caring or unemployment.
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 2024 is expected to amount to over €1.7 billion on these payments.
Carer's Benefit payment is not available to the self-employed. However the range of other carer payments can be availed of by people who are self-employed and have children with special/additional needs, provided they meet the other qualifying criteria:
• Domiciliary Care Allowance is a non means tested monthly payment made to a parent or guardian in respect of a child aged under 16 who has a severe disability and requires continual or continuous care and attention substantially over and above the care and attention usually required by a child of the same age for at least 12 consecutive months. To qualify for Domiciliary Care Allowance, the child must live at home with the person claiming the allowance for five or more days per week. As part of Budget 2024, I increased the rate of Domiciliary Care Allowance from €330 to its current rate of €340 per month.
• The Carer’s Allowance is the main scheme by which my department provides income support to carers in the community. Carer’s Allowance is a payment to people on low incomes who are caring full-time for a person who needs support because of age, disability or illness (including mental illness). The person being cared for must require full-time care and attention. For a single person €350 .00 of gross weekly income is disregarded. Where a carer is married/in a civil partnership/cohabiting the first €750.00 of combined gross weekly income is disregarded. As part of Budget 2024 I have increased these thresholds to €400 and €900 respectively, to take effect from June this year.
• The Carer's Support Grant is automatically paid to people in receipt of Carer's Allowance, Carer’s Benefit and Domiciliary Care allowance in June of each year. Other carers not in receipt of a carer’s payment may also be eligible for the Grant. The objective of the Carer’s Support Grant is to support carers in their caring role and carers may use the grant in a manner that is appropriate to their needs. The grant is not subject to a means test and it is not taxed. The grant is paid in respect of each person being cared for to take account of the additional cost of providing care and to recognise the particular challenges faced by these carers. As part of Budget Measures 2021, the rate of the grant was increased by €150. The new rate of €1,850 is the highest rate of the grant since its introduction.
A primary qualifying condition for the Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Support Grant payments is that the applicant provides full-time care and attention to a person in need of such care. However, in order to support a carer’s continued attachment to the workforce and to support broader social inclusion, carers may engage in some limited employment - including self-employment - education or training of up to 18.5 hours per week, while still being regarded as being in a position to provide full-time care and continue to receive their full payment. During this time of employment, education or training, adequate provision must be made for the care of the relevant person.
I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
