Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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1393. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection his views on the additional costs of disability for older people aged 65 years and over; if consideration has been given to extending the proposed annual cost of disability payment to those on the State pension with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18763/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides a number of income supports for people with a disability. These include Disability Allowance, Blind Pension and Invalidity Pension. Both Disability Allowance and Blind Pension are means tested social assistance schemes, while Invalidity Pension is a social insurance based scheme. These are part of the suite of working age payments.

In contrast, the State Pension, whether Contributory or Non-Contributory, is not a working age payment. It is paid to those who have reached pensionable age 66. Currently, the maximum weekly personal rate of State Pension (Contributory) is €289.30, some €40 to €45 per week more than those in receipt of a disability payment.

As part of Budgets 2023, 2024 and 2025 the Department of Social Protection assisted families and vulnerable citizens through a mix of lump sum supports and increases to weekly payments. The measures introduced included the provision of once-off cost-of-living lump sums, to recipients of Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Invalidity Pension and the Carer's Support Grant.

While people in receipt of the State Pension who also had a disability did not qualify for these cost-of-living lump sums, there were significant improvements in Budget 2025 which impacted them including:

• A €12 increase in the maximum weekly rate of all State Pensions with proportionate increases for people getting a reduced rate
• The amount not taken into account when a person sells their home to move into care increased to €337,500 from January 2025 for those who get State Pension (Non-contributory)
• Means test disregard for Fuel Allowance extended to those aged 66 and over from January 2025 - €524 (single person) and €1,048 (couple) meaning more people will qualify for this support
• The Free Travel Scheme Companion Pass for all those aged over 70 from September 2025
• A €300 cost-of-living lump sum for those getting the Fuel Allowance
• A €200 cost-of-living lump sum to people who are getting a Living Alone Increase
• October cost-of-living bonus
• A Christmas Bonus paid in December 2024.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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1394. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for a proposed timeline for reviewing the carer’s allowance means test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18764/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is very aware of the key role that family carers play in Irish society and the challenges they face. We are fully committed to supporting carers in that role.

There have been a number of significant improvements made to the income thresholds in the means test in recent years. From July this year, the weekly income disregard will increase from €450 to €625 for a single person, and from €900 to €1,250 for carers with a spouse or partner. This will make the scheme accessible to more people.

The Programme for Government has set out a timeline which commits to significantly increasing the income disregards for Carer’s Allowance in each Budget with a view to phasing out the means test during the lifetime of the Government.

I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.

Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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1395. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will reply to correspondence regarding means testing of the carer’s allowance (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18765/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that, as a result, they require that level of care.

I confirm that the person concerned has been in receipt of CA since 11 September 2008.

Once claims are in payment, My Department periodically reviews them to ensure that there is continued entitlement.

Means are any income belonging to the carer and their spouse /civil partner / cohabitant, property, (except their own home) or an asset that could bring in money or provide them with an income (for example occupational pensions, or pensions or benefits from another country).

The last means review for the person concerned was conducted on 2 June 2022. A new means review was initiated on 14 January 2025 and a request for information issued to the person concerned.

Once all information was received, it was determined that the means of the person had changed. They were informed that their current payment was under consideration owing to a change in their means.

On 17 February 2025, a letter issued and the person was offered the opportunity to furnish, within 10 days, any further information regarding the matter. No further information has been received.

The Deciding Officer determined means of €181.89 and the amount of CA payable as €85.00 per week from 20 March 2025.

The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 27 February 2025. They were also notified of their right to have the decision reviewed (where further information is available) or to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.

The means test for CA has been significantly eased over the years and is now one of the most generous means tests in the Social Welfare system. As part of Budget 2025, the weekly income disregard will increase from €450 to €625 for a single person, and from €900 to €1,250 for carers with a spouse / partner. These changes to the income disregard will take effect from July 2025 and will be automatically applied to the CA claim of the person concerned.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.