Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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158. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a half-rate carers allowance will be paid to either party of a married couple (details supplied); and her views on the practical way this can be achieved. [8624/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care.

If a person is in receipt of another social welfare payment in their own right (other than unemployment payments or supplementary welfare allowance) or being claimed as a qualified adult on their spouse/partner's payment, a half-rate CA can be paid too as long as all the normal conditions for receipt of CA are satisfied.

The person concerned is in receipt of full rate CA as they are not in receipt of another social welfare payment.

If the person concern wishes to apply for a qualified adult payment on their spouse’s disability allowance (DA) they should contact DA to apply for this and CA will be adjusted accordingly.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.