Written answers

Wednesday, 29 July 2020

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Carer's Allowance

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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41. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider allowing discretion on the 18.5 hours per week employment exemption under the carer's allowance scheme in circumstances in which it has no impact on the level of care provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18999/20]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As of end of June 2020, there were 87,643 people in receipt of Carer's Allowance.  The projected expenditure in 2020 is approximately €919 million.

A primary qualifying condition for the Carer’s Allowance payment is that the applicant provides full-time care and attention to a person in need of such care.  However, in order to support a carer’s continued attachment to the workforce and broader social inclusion, carers may engage in some limited employment, education or training, while still being regarded as being in a position to provide full-time care. 

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.

As part of Budget 2020, the number of hours per week that carers could engage in employment, education or training outside the home was increased from 15 to 18.5 hours per week.  This measure was prioritised in response to carers and carer representative groups who found the previous number of 15 hours to be too restrictive, not only for work but for education and training purposes.

I consider the limit of 18.5 hours to represent a reasonable balance between meeting the care recipient's requirement for full-time care and the carer's need to maintain contact with the workforce.  Any proposals for further changes to this condition would need to maintain this balance and would have to be considered in a budgetary context.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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