Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 December 2017
503. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a carer's benefit for a person (details supplied) may be applied for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52752/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe spouse of the person for whom details have been supplied has been in receipt of carer's benefit since July 2016. On the basis of current legislative provisions that provide for a maximum payment period of 104 weeks, the payment is due to end in July 2018. Carer’s benefit is an income support payment for people who have made social insurance contributions and who have recently left the workforce, or have reduced their hours of work to 15 hours per week or less, and are looking after somebody in need of full-time care and attention. A person applying for carer's benefit must meet the conditions for receipt of the payment. Only one carer’s benefit payment is paid in respect of an individual recipient of care. The suggestion that “entitlement” may be transferred between persons for the purposes of qualifying for carer's benefit is contrary to the general principle of the social insurance system where entitlement to a payment is generally linked with a person’s own social insurance contributions and whether they themselves meet the conditions for the payment. The issue of joint assessment is a matter for the tax code and is not relevant to the question of entitlement for social insurance payments.
The Department does provide support to carers through a number of other payments. Carer's Allowance is a means-tested payment for carers who look after certain people in need of full-time care and attention on a full time basis. The Carer's Support Grant is an annual payment made to carers by the Department. Domiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly payment for a severely disabled child who is under age 16 and needs full-time care and attention far beyond what is normally required by a child of the same age.
Further details of these payments and the qualifying conditions are available from the Department.
