Thousands of carers and their families are set to receive their annual Carer’s Support Grant at an increased rate of €1,850.
The grant is available to all carers providing full-time care to an older person or a person with a disability, regardless of their means or social insurance contributions. Nearly 28,000 carers in Dublin out of some 125,000 across the country are set to receive it.
Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys TD said: “I am also putting in place measures to provide a scheme to ensure that long-term carers are provided with paid contributions for gaps in their social insurance record for the first time in the history of the State. This will enhance State Pension provision for carers who have spent more than 20 years of their lives caring."
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“As we work towards the next Budget, our carers will be front and centre of my approach as Minister and my ambition is to support them even further.”
The Carer’s Support Grant is paid automatically to all recipients of Carer’s Allowance (whether full rate or half rate), Carer’s Benefit, or Domiciliary Care Allowance. It is also available to other full-time carers who are not receiving any of these payments.
People may still qualify if they meet these conditions:
- they are 16 or over
- they ordinarily reside in the Irish State
- they care for the person full time
- they have been caring for the person for a continuous period of at least six months, and this period includes the first Thursday in June
- they live with the person they are caring for or they are contactable quickly by a direct system of communication such as a telephone or an alarm
Almost 14,000 carers are providing care for two or more people and will receive a grant in respect of each person they are caring for.
People do not qualify for Carer's Support Grant if they are:
- working, self-employed, or on a training or education course for more than 18.5 hours a week. (Note: they must show that the person they are caring for has adequate care while they are working, on an education course, or both)
- getting Jobseeker's Allowance or Jobseeker's Benefit
- signing on for credited contributions
- living in a hospital, convalescent home or similar institution
The Carer’s Support Grant is exempt from income tax, PRSI and USC. The overall cost of the grant being paid is expected to be in the region of €260 million.
You can apply for the Carer's Support Grant for 2022 at any time from April 2022 up until 31 December 2023.
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