Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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481. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to list all the achievements that have been made to benefit and improve outcomes for carers since this Government took office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42605/24]

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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482. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to detail any changes to carer’s payments and benefits, including the means tests, income thresholds and capital disregards, that are under consideration by her Department; the outcome and conclusions thus far; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42606/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 481 and 482 together.

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.

Since my appointment as Minister for Social Protection I have advocated strongly on behalf of carers. Changes to carer’s payments and benefits, including the means tests, income thresholds and capital disregards are always kept under consideration, in consultation with carers and the organisations that represent them.

In this regard, I have taken a range of actions to improve outcomes for carers across all the carer payments under my remit. I have increasing payment rates and income disregards. I have extended access across the schemes to new recipients. I have also provided additional once-off and double payments to assist with additional financial pressures experienced by carers as a result of rising costs-of-living.

• As part of my first Budget as Minister for Social Protection, I increased the Carer’s Support Grant by €150 to €1,850. The grant is not subject to a means test or social insurance contributions, nor is it taxable. As part of Budget 2025 the Carer’s Support Grant will increase by a further €150 to €2,000, its highest ever rate. This is an increase of €300 under this Government.
• Budget 2022 saw the first changes to the Carer’s Allowance means test in 14 years. I increased the income disregards 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. It’s important to note that the latter equates to €100,000 in the case of a couple.
• As part of Budget 2024, and with effect from June this year, the weekly income disregards were further increased from €350 to €450 for a single person, and from €750 to €900 for carers with a spouse/partner.
• 2025 will see further increases to the earnings disregard for Carer's Allowance from €450 to €625 for a single person and from €900 to €1,250 for a couple. Since June 2022, this amounts to cumulative increases to the income disregards of €292.50 for a single carer and €585.00 for a carer who is part of couple.

• The Carer's Benefit earnings limit as increased in line with its means tested Carer's Allowance counterpart. With effect from June this year, the Carer’s Benefit earnings Limit will increase by €100 to €450 per week. As part of Budget 2025, the Carer’s Benefit payment will be extended to the self-employed for the first time and the earnings limit will be increased from €450 to €625, after tax.
• From January 2024, the rate of Domiciliary Care Allowance increased from €330 to €340 per month. As part of Budget 2025, and with effect from January, the payment will increase by a further €20, bringing the payment to €360. This payment has increased by €50.50 per month under this Government. Further changes to the payment include:
  • As part of Budget 2022, the period during which Domiciliary Care Allowance can be paid for children in hospital was extended from 3 months to 6 months.
  • I have also extended the period from 6 months to 18 months for babies who remain in an acute hospital after birth.
• I have delivered on the Programme for Government commitment to provide a pension solution for Long-term Carers. From January 2024, a new Long-Term Carers Contribution scheme was introduced by this Department. Under the scheme, a person who has been a full-time carer for an incapacitated dependent for at least 20 years (1,040 weeks), can get Long-Term Carers Contributions to cover gaps in their contribution record which can help them qualify for the State Pension (Contributory).
• Over the last number of Budgets, there have been a suite of once-off lump sum and double payments to assist carers with the cost of living and rising bills. More recently, as part of Budget 2025, these include: -
  • A €400 cost of living lump sum payment for carers eligible for the Carer’s Support Grant will be paid in November.
  • In October a cost-of-living bonus will be paid to most people who get a long term weekly social welfare payment including carers.
  • A Christmas Bonus will be paid to over 1.3 million long term welfare recipients including carers.
  • A €12 increase in the weekly rate of Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Benefit will take effect from January. This is the fourth successive rise in weekly welfare rates under this Government. Rates have increased by €41.00 over the last 4 years.
  • Carer’s Allowance will be included as a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance – the other qualifying conditions for Fuel Allowance will need to be satisfied.
• For carers with children the following will also apply:
  • Weekly rates of Child Support Payment (previously known as Increase for a Qualified Child) will increase by €8 to €62 for those aged 12 and over, and by €4 to €50 for under 12s in January 2025.
  • A €100 cost of living lump sum payment for people getting a Child Support Payment to be paid for each qualified child in November 2024.
  • A double payment of Child Benefit to be paid in both November and December 2024.