Written answers
Wednesday, 13 March 2019
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Carer's Benefit Payments
Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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336. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason half-rate child dependant allowance is not applied to carer’s benefit claimants for foster children for the first six months while it is paid to other claimants of social welfare payments immediately; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12536/19]
Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Carer's Benefit (CARB) is a PRSI based payment made to a person who leaves the workforce to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention. An increased payment can be made where full-time care is being provided to two people.
A recipient of CARB is entitled to claim an increase for a qualified child (IQC) where:
- the child normally resides with them and
- the child is aged less than 18 or is aged between 18 and 21 and attending full-time day education and
- where there is a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant, their gross income is less than €400 per week
There is no distinction between a recipient who is a birth parent, an adoptive parent or a foster parent. An IQC is payable on CARB from the date that the child becomes a qualified child for that parent or the date that CARB commences, whichever is the later.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
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