Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This Government acknowledges the important role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting them in that role. Accordingly, the current State Pension (Contributory) system provides measures including PRSI credits, Homemaking Disregards and HomeCaring Periods to recognise caring periods of up to 20 years outside of paid employment in the calculation of a payment rate.

Despite these measures, some long-term carers of incapacitated dependants may still face barriers in accessing the State Pension Contributory. They may for example have difficulty establishing the minimum number of 10 year’s paid contributions.

In September 2022, I announced a series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system in response to the recommendations from the Pensions Commission. This set of measures represents the biggest ever structural reform of the Irish State Pension system.

One of the key measures to be introduced is enhanced State Pension provision for people who have been caring for incapacitated dependents for 20 years or more. Long-term carer's contributions can be awarded to a person who has cared for an incapacitated person for a period of 20 years or more. These contributions will be treated the same as paid contributions for State Pension (Contributory) entitlement only and can be used to satisfy the minimum 520 contributions condition.

Long-term carer's contributions will be available to individuals who reach State Pension age from 1 January 2024 and will also be available to people currently over pension age. Individuals will be able to apply for these contributions and receive a State Pension (Contributory) or enhanced pension from 1st January 2024 where eligible. Legislation to enact this measure is currently in the latter stages of the legislative process.

In September, my Department launched an online system for people to register for long term caring contributions. This will facilitate the expeditious processing of these contributions upon enactment of the legislation.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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 Carer’s Allowance is the main scheme by which my department provides income support to carers in the community. Some 95,598 people are supported by this payment.

As part of Budget 2024, the weekly income disregard will be increased from €350 to €450 for a single person, and from €750 to €900 for carers with a spouse/partner. These new disregards will operate from 6 June 2024.

This amounts to cumulative increases to the disregards of €117.50 for a single carer and €235 for a carer who is part of couple, during my time as Minister for Social Protection. It is also worth noting that the capital and savings disregard for the Carer’s Allowance means assessment was also increased last year from €20,000 to €50,000.

Furthermore, I introduced the following additional supports for Carers as part of Budget 2024:-

• In November a €400 a lump sum was paid to people receiving the Carer's Support Grant.
• Last week a Christmas Bonus Double Payment was paid to people in receipt of Carer's Allowance and Carer’s Benefit.
• From January 2024 there will be an increase of €12 in maximum personal rate of weekly carers payments, with proportionate increases for qualified adults and those on reduced rates with an additional €4 increase per child.
• Also, in January 2024 there will be an additional once-off double Cost of Living Support Payment which will be paid to qualifying Social Protection recipients including carers.
• I am also increasing the rate of payment for Domiciliary Care Allowance from by €10 from January 2024.
• I am satisfied that all of these measures will make a real and measurable difference to people who are caring for loved ones. In particular raising the general weekly income disregard will mean that more people who are caring will become eligible for Carer's Allowance.
• I trust that this clarifies this matter for the Deputy.