The annual Carer’s Support Grant is available to all carers providing full-time care to an older person or a person with a disability, regardless of their means or social insurance contributions. The Carer’s Support Grant is fully exempt from income tax, PRSI and USC. 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 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 came into effect from June 2021. 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. It can also be paid to certain other carers providing full-time care. At the end of June some 121,551 grants were issued in respect of 136,054 care recipients.
One of the principal conditions for receipt of Carer’s Support is that full time care and attention is required and being provided. A carer will be regarded as providing full-time care and attention to a relevant person, where the number of hours providing such care is not less than 35 hours in a period of 7 consecutive days, and care is provided on any 5 days, whether consecutive or not, within a period of 7 consecutive days. The provision of full-time care and attention requirement is moderated somewhat by allowing a carer to work or engage in education or training for up to 18.5 hours per week. During this time of employment, education or training, adequate provision must be made for the care of the relevant person. Both the full-time care and attention requirement and the 18.5-hour limitation are contained in the respective legislative provisions of the Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit and Carer’s Support Grant schemes.
There are a number of circumstances, set out in legislation, where a carer cannot not qualify for the Carer’s Support Grant including where a person is signing for credited contributions. A credit may be awarded (subject to certain qualifying conditions) for each week to bridge the gap between periods of insurable employment where a person has a break in their insurance record because of illness, unemployment or other eligible scenario. Under certain circumstances a person may be awarded credits without receiving a Benefit or Allowance payment. This may apply, for example, in the case of a person who has exhausted entitlement to Jobseeker's Benefit but who does not qualify for Jobseeker's Allowance due to their means. In this case, the person may be entitled to 'sign' for credits to protect their other social insurance entitlements. In order to be entitled to Unemployment Credits, a person must be available for full-time employment, capable of work and must also be genuinely seeking work.
I do not intend to extend eligibility to the Carer's Support Grant in the circumstances outlined by the Deputy as it would be inconsistent with the intent of the payment.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
