Written answers

Tuesday, 18 September 2012

Department of Social Protection

Carer's Allowance Payments

Photo of Seán FlemingSeán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection her views on the fact that people who are approved carers and only in receipt of half rate should not be specifically singled out for a cut as they are carrying out a lot of work for this additional payment, thereby saving the exchequer a large amount of money, and that in fact this payment should be re-categorised as an allowance other than another normal social welfare payment because this is actually a payment for work and not for social welfare purposes and if she will give a commitment to protect the people who are providing this service for a maximum of 60 cent per hour for each hour they work in the week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37850/12]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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There are almost 52,000 people in receipt of carer’s allowance from my Department at an annual cost of over €500 million. Of these, over 22,000 are getting half rate carer’s allowance in addition to another social welfare payment at an annual cost of some €90 million. These include carers in receipt of one parent family payments, disability allowance and the State pension. They also qualify for free travel and may qualify for the household benefits package.

There are no carers who are only in receipt of a half rate carer’s allowance. Carer’s allowance is not a payment for providing care but an income support for people who are unable to work because of their caring responsibilities. I have no plans to re-categorise it as outlined above.

The Government appreciates the work that carers do in providing care for their loved ones and has recognised this in the recently published National Carers’ Strategy. The means test for carer’s allowance is one of the most generous in the social welfare system. The income disregard is €332.50 per week for a single person and €665 per week for a couple. A couple with two children can earn up to €35,400 and qualify for the maximum rate of carer’s allowance while a couple earning €59,300 will still qualify for the minimum rate of carer’s allowance and also the household benefits and free travel.

In the current economic climate every scheme in my Department must be kept under review, particularly payments that are additional to a primary weekly payment. As part of the deliberative process for the next Budget, my Department will analyse, in so far as possible, the distributive and poverty impact of possible social welfare changes. These impacts will be taken into account in arriving at the final decisions on the Budget. No decisions have been made at this stage in relation to welfare expenditure for next year.

Photo of Seán FlemingSeán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline in respect of people who are on the half rate carers allowance the breakdown of the primary payments that these people are in receipt of in the first instance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37851/12]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Please find as follows a table that outlines the breakdown of the primary payments carers are in receipt of along with a half rate carer’s allowance, as of the end of July 2012:

Scheme person is in receipt of along with a half rate Carer’s Allowance
Caring for 1 person
Caring for 2 peopleTotal
Adoptive Benefit
1
0
1
Back to Work Employee Increase for a Qualified Adult
75
0
75
Back to Work Self Employed
2
0
2
Blind Pension
15
2
17
Blind Pension Increase for a Qualified Adult
27
2
29
Deserted Wife's Benefit
268
22
290
Disability Allowance
1005
66
1071
Disability Allowance Increase for a Qualified Adult
1376
7
1383
Farm Assist
130
4
134
Farm Assist Increase for a Qualified Adult
138
4
142
Illness Benefit
834
49
883
Illness Benefit Increase for a Qualified Adult
300
2
302
Incapacity Supplement
3
0
3
Incapacity Supplement Increase for a Qualified Adult
4
0
4
Injury Benefit
8
0
8
Injury Benefit Increase for a Qualified Adult
5
0
5
Invalidity Pension
915
74
989
Invalidity Pension Increase for a Qualified Adult
1179
11
1190
Jobseeker's Allowance Increase for a Qualified Adult
1319
19
1338
Jobseeker's Benefit Increase for a Qualified Adult
388
4
392
Maternity Benefit
52
1
53
Not in receipt of another Social Welfare Payment
367
10
377
One-Parent Family Payment
3975
329
4304
Pre-Retirement Allowance
77
1
78
Pre-Retirement Allowance Increase for a Qualified Adult Allowance
26
0
26
State Pension (Contributory)
3390
66
3456
State Pension (Contributory) Increase for a Qualified Adult
1643
28
1671
State Pension (Non-Contributory)
2222
50
2272
State Pension (Non-Contributory) Increase for a Qualified Adult
270
1
271
State Pension Transition
22
0
22
State Pension Transition Increase for a Qualified Adult
3
0
3
Widow's / Widower's (Contributory) Pension
1136
69
1205
Widow's / Widower's (Non-Contributory) Pension
84
2
86
Total in receipt of Half Rate Carer’s Allowance
21259
823
22082

Photo of Seán FlemingSeán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons here on the half rate carers allowance and if this will be broken down on a county basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37852/12]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Please find as follows the current county by county breakdown of the number of people in receipt of half-rate carer’s allowance:

CORK
2724
CLARE
547
CAVAN
310
CARLOW
375
DUBLIN
4686
DONEGAL
1127
GALWAY
1069
KILDARE
746
KILKENNY
399
KERRY
828
LIMERICK
1199
LONGFORD
321
LOUTH
586
LEITRIM
197
LAOIS
351
MEATH
569
MONAGHAN
279
MAYO
757
OFFALY
466
ROSCOMMON
328
SLIGO
350
TIPPERARY
1120
WATERFORD
630
WESTMEATH
468
WICKLOW
588
WEXFORD
949
TOTAL
21969

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