The carer's benefit scheme is intended to support people who must leave the workforce temporarily to care for someone who is in need of full-time care and attention. It is a weekly income support payment, which is based on PRSI contributions paid by the carer.
The maximum duration of the carer's benefit scheme is set at 65 weeks. This time period should be sufficient to facilitate carers to temporarily care for an elderly or infirm person or to make long-term arrangements. It is also considered that employers would experience difficulties in preserving an employee's rights for a longer period. The 65 weeks carer's leave may be claimed as a single continuous period or in separate time periods. However, it is important to note that a carer may claim carer's benefit for a different care recipient for another 65 weeks later in their working life. In the event of a person's carer's benefit expiring and the need for income support still existing, it is open to the carer to apply for carer's allowance.
Carer's benefit was introduced in October 2000 and 680 carers have benefited to date, of which 460 carers are currently receiving benefits. It is estimated that there could eventually be in the region of 6,800 people on carer's benefit once the scheme reaches maturity. The number of recipients of carer's allowance increased from 3,355 in 1991, its first full year in existence, to 19,000 after 12 years of the scheme's operation. It may take many years before carer's benefit reaches maturity and it is expected that the scheme will only have in the region of 500 to 1,000 recipients in the first number of years.