Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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165. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the assistance available for a person (details supplied) who was refused carer's benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68206/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Carer’s Benefit is a payment made to insured people who may be required to leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a person(s) in need of full-time care. The scheme is payable for a period of 2 years (104 weeks) for each care recipient and may be claimed over separate periods up to a total of 2 years (104 weeks).

To qualify, the carer must satisfy PRSI conditions; employment conditions; show that they are providing full-time care and attention and also must show that the care recipient requires full-time care and attention.

The person concerned applied for Carer’s Benefit on 15 August 2025. From the information available, they did not meet the conditions of the scheme in relation to PRSI contributions. The person was notified of this in a decision letter dated 30/09/2025. 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 (SWAO).

This correspondence further informed the person of the availability of the means tested Carer’s Allowance scheme. The weekly means disregard on this scheme increased in July 2025 to €625 for a single claimant and to €1,250 for a couple, and will further increase in July 2026 to €1,000 for a single person and to €2,000 for a couple.

A Review and Appeal request was received by the SWAO on 09 October 2025. As the Review decision remained unchanged, the claim information remains with the SWAO awaiting the outcome of their determination. They will contact the person directly regarding the outcome of the Appeal.