Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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436. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will exempt the carer’s payment from a means test (details supplied). [15410/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Carer’s Allowance is primarily aimed at carers on low incomes who look after people in need of full-time care and attention. The two principal conditions for receipt of Carer’s Allowance are that full time care and attention is required and being provided, and that the applied means test is satisfied. The application of the means test ensures that the limited resources available can be targeted a those with the greatest income need.

As part of Budget 2022 I made significant changes to the Carer’s Allowance means test. These were the first changes to the means test in 14 years.

- The capital and savings disregard was increased from €20,000 to €50,000, and

- For carer’s who work, the weekly income disregard was increased from €332.50 to €350 for a single person, and from €665 to €750 for a couple.

These are the highest disregards in the social welfare system.

Significant non-means tested payments are also available to carers through Carer's Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer's Support Grant.

As part of Budget 2023, I announced significant improvements to payments for carers including:

- A €12 increase in the maximum rate of Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Benefit with proportionate increases for people receiving a reduced rate.

- The Half-rate Carer’s Allowance is now disregarded in the means assessment for Fuel Allowance.

- Domiciliary Care Allowance increased by €20.50 to €330 per month.

- A double payment for carers paid in October 2022 benefitting over 118,000 carers.

- A €500 payment for people receiving Carer’s Support Grant paid in November 2022.

- Carers received the Christmas Bonus Double Payment.

- A €200 payment for carers which will be paid in April.

Any additional changes to the means test, such as that suggested by the Deputy, would have implications for overall spending and would have to be considered in the context of the budget.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Maternity Benefit is a statutory payment made for 26 weeks to employed and self-employed women who satisfy certain PRSI contribution conditions. The fundamental qualification criteria for Maternity Benefit are that a woman must be in insurable employment and entitled to statutory maternity leave or be in insurable self-employment. The applicant must also satisfy certain PRSI contribution conditions.

There are a number of situations in which people might travel abroad for work or training and whether or not this has any impact on a person's PRSI record will depend on the particular circumstances. If an employer is mandating an employee to travel abroad for training, and retains that person as a employee in insurable employment, there would be no break in the person's PRSI record as a result of them engaging in compulsory training.

If a claimant was in insurable employment in a country covered by EU Regulations and has paid at least one full rate PRSI contribution since returning to Ireland, their insurance record in that country may be combined with their Irish PRSI contributions to help qualify for Maternity Benefit. Similarly, the Convention on Social Security between Ireland and the UK, put in place in response to the UK leaving the EU, provides for situations where workers have moved between Ireland and the UK.

Where an individual has insufficient social insurance contributions to qualify for Maternity Benefit, they may be eligible for another social welfare payment provided they meet the relevant conditions. For example, the main purpose of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme is to provide immediate and flexible assistance for those in need who do not qualify for payment under other welfare schemes.

I trust this clarifies the position for the deputy.