THOUSANDS more Irish people will qualify for a weekly social welfare payment worth up to €447 following a change to the eligibility rules.
And the major expansion of the weekly income disregard for the cash also means that 5,280 people across the country will receive an increase in their payment.
The weekly income disregard for the Carer’s Allowance payment will increase from €450 to €625 for a single person, and from €900 to €1,250 for carers with a spouse or partner.
This means the first €625 of a single person’s weekly income and €900 of a couple’s weekly income will not be taken into account when applying for the means-tested payment.
The reform to the income disregard is expected to take effect from Thursday.
Cash income, capital and maintenance payments are all assessed by the Department of Social Protection as part of the means test.
However, the changes to the means test, which will take effect this week, means a person will still be able to qualify for the payment even if they are earning over €450 from other income each week.
And the move means that a whopping 99 per cent of people receiving Carer’s Allowance will now receive the maximum rate of payment.
Carer’s Allowance maximum weekly payment is €260 for a carer aged under 66 that is caring for one person, and €390 for a person aged under 66 that is caring for two or more people.
Carer’s aged 66 or over who are caring for one person can receive a maximum payment of €298 each week while those who are caring for two people or more and are aged under 66 can claim €447.
Fine Gael’s John Paul O’Shea, Chairperson of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection, confirmed this morning that 5,280 carers will receive an increase in their payment following the changes.
In addition to this, it is expected that many more carers will now qualify for the payment for the first time under the higher income limits.
Deputy O’Shea described the move announced in Budget 2025, as a “positive change”, but said the government “needs to go further”.
He said: “There have been significant changes to the Carers Allowance means test in recent years with the income disregard increased by €292.50 for a single person and €585 for a couple since 2022.
“It has been confirmed to me that the further increase in the income limits this week will mean that 99 per cent of people receiving Carer’s Allowance will now receive the maximum rate of payment.
“In addition, these changes will mean that many more carers who were previously outside the income limits will now qualify for a payment.
STILL TIME TO APPLY FOR €2,000 BOOST
THE Carer’s Support Grant increased to €2,000 – its highest level ever – last month.
The non taxable and non means tested payment had been €1,850 in previous years, but was upped by €150 for 2025.
The payment was given to those already receiving the Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit and the Domiciliary Care Allowance.
Those who believe they may qualify for the €2,000 boost can still apply.
You can apply for a Carer’s Support Grant for any given year from April of that year until 31 December of the following year.
This means you can apply for the Carer’s Support Grant in 2025 at any time from April 2025 up until 31 December 2026.
“Our carers play a vital role in our society and we need to support them. This is a welcome step, but we need to go further.
“The Programme for Government commits to phasing out the means test entirely during the lifetime of this Government.”
O’Shea called on Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary to build on the “strong work” in this area in recent years and outline a road map for phasing out the means test altogether.
Fianna Fail TD Erin McGreehan told how it is only right to recognise the “invaluable work” of carer’s across Ireland.
She said: “This is not the final step, but real progress towards Fianna Fáil’s commitment to abolish the means test for Carer’s Allowance.
“I look forward to working closely with the Minister to continue strengthening support for our careers in the future.”
Minister Calleary said: “The Programme for Government is ambitious for carers. Importantly, we will continue to significantly increase the income disregards for Carer’s Allowance in each Budget with a view to phasing out the means test during the lifetime of the government.”
