Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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1436. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will change the rules in order to backdate jobseeker's pay-related benefit for workers who have lost their jobs since the beginning of 2025; the reason the decision was taken to limit eligibility to workers made unemployed from 31 March despite the scheme having being legislated for in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19820/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit is a new social insurance income support, linked to previous earnings, which has replaced the Jobseeker's Benefit scheme for people whose first day of unemployment is on or after 31 March 2025.

The Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024 sets out the legislative framework for the new scheme. The Commencement Order for the scheme provides that it comes into operation on 31 March 2025. The scheme is available to those whose unemployment begins on or after this date as provided for in Part 3, section 13 of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024.

This scheme is a fundamental reform in social policy and the payment of an individualised rate based on recent earnings and PRSI contributions differs significantly from the structure of the existing Jobseeker's Benefit scheme. A lead-in time was necessary to provide for the regulatory, technical and administrative changes that were required for the new scheme to come into operation.

The existing Jobseeker's Benefit scheme is available for people who became fully unemployed before 31 March and such customers will remain on Jobseeker's Benefit until they return to employment or their benefit runs out, subject to the normal rules of that scheme.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Ann Graves (Dublin Fingal East, Sinn Fein)
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1437. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to review the carer's allowance entitlement for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19884/25]

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.

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).

An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 31 January 2025.

The claim was disallowed as the means of the person concerned exceeded the statutory means limit. The person concerned was notified of this decision on 25 March 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.

A review was initiated on foot of correspondence received from the person concerned on 28 March 2025. Following this review, the decision remained unchanged. The person was notified of this decision in writing on 15 April 2025.

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, with effect from July 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.

It is open for the person concerned to apply for the standalone Carer’s Support Grant (CSG), an annual single payment of €2,000 for each care recipient, paid on the first Thursday in June. The CSG is not means tested and is paid to carers who provide full-time care and attention and satisfy the following conditions.

The person claiming the Grant must:

be aged 16 or over and ordinarily resident in this State;

care for the person on a full-time basis;

care for the person for a continuous period of at least six months – this period must include the first Thursday in June;

live with the person being looked after, or this person can be contacted quickly by a direct system of communication (i.e., a telephone or alarm);

not be employed / self-employed for more than 18.5 hours per week; and

not be in receipt of or entitled to receive Jobseeker’s Allowance or Jobseeker’s Benefit or be signing for credited contributions.

Additionally, the person being cared for must

be so incapacitated as to need full-time care and attention;

not normally live in a hospital, convalescent home, or another similar institution;

not receive full-time care and attention within their own home from another person other than the person claiming the Grant.

The person concerned may also wish to visit their local Intreo office where they will be able to assist with any queries or on further entitlements that may be due.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.