Carers Payments

Persons who are looking after someone in need of support because of age, physical or learning disability, or illness (including mental illness) may qualify for a Carers Payment and the Respite Care Grant. Persons in receipt of a Carers payment may work part-time.

What Are The Two Carers Payments?

• Carers Benefit – Social Insurance based payment

• Carers Allowance – Social Assistance based payment

What Is Carers Benefit?

Carer’s Benefit is the payment made to insured people who leave the work place to care for a person or persons in need of full time care and attention. Carer’s Benefit can be paid for a total of 104 weeks for each person being cared for.

If you receive carers benefit you will be eligible for a GP visit card

You will not qualify for the free Household Benefits Package or a Free Travel pass

How Do You Get Carers Benefit?

• The person being cared for requires continual supervision so as not to be a danger to him/herself OR

• They require continual supervision and assistance throughout the day with their normal personal needs ie feeding, dressing, walking etc.

What Are The Criteria For The Carer For Carers Benefit?

These are the main criteria:

• They must have been employed for 8 out of the previous 26 weeks, minimum 16 hours per week, before the date of claim

• They must have 156 PRSI contributions paid since entry into insurance AND 39 contributions paid in the "Relevant Tax year“ OR 39 contributions paid in the 12 months immediately before the claim OR 26 contributions paid in the GCY and 16 contributions paid in the year prior to the RTY

Other Carer Criteria

• They are caring for the person on a full time basis

• They are not living in a hospital, institution or convalescent home

• They are fit to care

• They are not working or self employed for more than 18.5 hours per week

• They are aged 16 years to 66 years

• They must be over 18 years

• They must be living with or in the position of being able to provide full time care while not living with the person who needs care

• Satisfy the means test

• Satisfy the Habitual Residence Rule

What Are The Criteria For The Caree For Carers Allowance?

These are the main criteria:

• The person being cared for is over 16years of age or under 16years but for whom Domiciliary Care Allowance is being claimed

• The person being cared for requires continual supervision so as not to be a danger to themself or they require continual supervision and assistance throughout the day with their normal personal needs ie feeding, dressing, walking etc.

What Is The Household Benefits Package and Free Travel Pass?

If you qualify for Carers Allowance, you will also qualify for the free Household Benefits Package and a Free Travel pass.

What Is Half Rate Carers Allowance?

You can get Half Rate Carers Allowance in these circumstances:

• You are already getting Carer's Allowance but also meet the qualifying criteria for another social welfare payment

• You changed from another social welfare payment to get Carer's Allowance

• You are caring for someone and being claimed for by a spouse or partner

• You are getting a social welfare payment other than Carer's Allowance and caring for someone

What Happens When The Carer Starts Work?

The Carer can start work under certain conditions. These are detailed below:

• Adequate care is arranged for the person you are caring for

• The Carer can do voluntary or community work for up to 18.5 hours a week

• The Carer can do limited self-employment in their own home

• The Carer can take up employment outside their home for up to 18.5 hours a week

• The Carer can take up education or training courses up to 18.5 hours per week

• Income is limited to €350.00 - where income exceeds €350 then entitlement to the payment is lost

There are a few other considerations:

• There is an Income Disregard of €350.00 for a single person and €750.00 married couple

• The remainder is assessed at 50%

• There is a Capital/Savings disregard of €50,000

What Is Carers Leave?

Carer’s Leave is a right that allows a person to temporarily leave their employment to care full time. Your position will be held open for you. You may take a minimum of 13 weeks to a maximum of 104 weeks. You must have worked with your employer for a minimum of 12 months, consecutively.