Written answers
Wednesday, 20 September 2023
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Social Welfare Schemes
Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
603. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39463/23]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
The person in question has been subject to Class A PRSI since 10 September 1997 when their current employment commenced. A Deciding Officer in my Department’s Scope Section has determined that the individual is not entitled to the modified rate of PRSI for the following reasons. Firstly, in order for the modified rate of PRSI to continue on changing employments, an individual must have been on the modified rate of PRSI on the 5th April 1995. The individual referred to was not on the modified rate of PRSI on that date. In addition, there is a requirement that on changing employments there must be no break in service.The individual ceased their previous employment on 5thSeptember 1997 and commenced their new employment on 10thSeptember, and a break in service occurred.
The person has appealed the Scope decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
604. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will remove the means test from full time carers, many of whom are providing 24/7 care for a loved one but who cannot access carer's allowance due to the means of a spouse or partner; if she recognises the savings that these people are providing for the State and the valuable social role that they are performing, especially in light of ever-increasing household cost of living; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39464/23]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
The Government acknowledges the valuable role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. This commitment is recognised in both the Programme for Government and the National Carers’ Strategy.
The main income supports to carers provided by my department are Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Spending in 2023 is expected to amount to almost €1.6 billion on these payments.
The two principal conditions for receipt of Carer’s Allowance are that full time care and attention is required and provided, and that a means test is satisfied. The application of the means-test not only ensures that the recipient has an income need but also that scarce resources are targeted to those with the greatest need.
As part of Budget 2022, I introduced measures which allowed carers to have a higher weekly household income and a higher level of savings, and still qualify for a Carer's Allowance payment. These were the first changes to the means test in 14 years. The intention of the higher disregard for couples is to provide for circumstances where a carer who is one of a couple would not be unfairly impacted by their spouses or partner’s income.
- For carers who work, the weekly income disregard was increased from €332.50 to €350 for a single person, and from €665 to €750 for carers with a spouse/partner.
- The capital and savings disregard for the Carer’s Allowance means assessment was increased from €20,000 to €50,000, aligning it with the capital means test for Disability Allowance.
Removing the means test for Carer’s Allowance in its entirety would create a new universal social protection scheme for those meeting the scheme’s basic caring condition. Carer's Allowance does not purport to be a payment for care and I do not intend to deviate from the underpinning principle of Carer’s Allowance being an income support payment.
In addition to Carer's Allowance, my department also provides a non-means tested payment to those carers who have to leave the workforce or reduce their hours in the form of Carer’s Benefit. For those providing ongoing care and attention for a child aged under 16 with a severe disability, Domiciliary Care Allowance is available and is also not means-tested.
Furthermore, the annual Carer's Support Grant - which I increased to its highest-ever rate of €1,850 - is also available to carers who are not on a social welfare payment. The grant is paid in a single lump sum annually, usually on the first Thursday in June. The grant is not means-tested and is not taxable and is paid in respect of each care recipient.
Notwithstanding the increased level of support already in place for carers, I have asked my department to keep the current carer supports under review as part of the annual budgetary process.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
No comments