Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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330. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will reassess the means test threshold for carer’s allowance, where people who are providing care are at risk of falling below the poverty line and require higher support from Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20799/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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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 on these payments is expected to amount to over €1.7 billion this year.

The Carer’s Allowance scheme is the main scheme by which the Department provides income support to carers in the community. In 2024 the expenditure on the Carer’s Allowance scheme is estimated to be over €1.1 billion and there are currently 96,670 people getting this payment.

Since my appointment as Minister, I have made a number of improvements to the means test for Carer's Allowance.

In June 2022 the income disregards were 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 also increased from €20,000 to €50,000.

Next month the weekly income disregard will be further increased from €350 to €450 for a single person, and from €750 to €900 for carers with a spouse/partner.

Since 2022, this amounts to cumulative increases to the income disregards of €117.50 for a single carer and €235.00 for a carer who is part of couple. These are the highest disregards in the Social Welfare system.

These changes mean that carers on a reduced rate move to a higher payment. In addition, many carers who previously did not qualify for a payment due to their means are brought into the Carers Allowance system for the first time.

It is important to acknowledge also that there are a range of other supports for carers provided by my department which are not based on a means assessment, such as the Carer’s Support Grant, Carer’s Benefit and Domiciliary Care Allowance.

In acknowledgement of the particular challenges faced in light of the current cost of living crisis, I also announced a number of measures as part of Budget 2024, which directly benefit family carers:

• In November, a €400 a lump sum was paid to people receiving the Carers Support Grant.
• A Christmas Bonus Double Payment was paid to people in receipt of Carers Allowance and Carer’s Benefit.
• January saw an increase of €12 in maximum personal rate of weekly carers payments, with proportionate increases for qualified adults and those on reduced rates.
• In late January/early February, a once-off double Cost of Living Support Payment was paid to qualifying Social Protection recipients, including carers.

I have asked this Group to report to me on the matter by Quarter 3 of this year.

I can assure the Deputy that I am keenly aware of the key role that family carers play in Irish society and the challenges they face, and I will continue to keep the range of income supports provided to family carers by my department under review.

I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.