Carer's Allowance income disregard change leads to boost for thousands
Under changes decided under Budget 2025, which will come into effect now, the weekly income disregard for Carer's Allowance will be increased by €175 to €625 per week for single carers, and by €350 to €1,250 per week for a couple.
Since June 2022, Carer's Allowance income disregards have increased by €292.50 for single carers and €585 for carers in couples.
The changes announced mean that 5,280 carers will receive an increase in their Carer's Allowance payment from today.
As a result of these increases, a carer in a two-adult household with an income of approximately €69,000 will still retain their full carer's payment. Incomes of €97,000 will retain a partial payment.
Carer's Allowance is a means-tested payment for people living in Ireland who are looking after someone who needs support because of age, physical or learning disability or illness, including mental illness. There are currently 100,154 recipients.
The Carer's Benefit income limit will also increase from €450 to €625.
Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary stated that 99 per cent of existing Carer's Allowance recipients will now get the full rate.
He said: "One of the areas that carers have raised with me regularly is the carer's means test.
"The changes I am announcing today will make the scheme more accessible to people who previously did not qualify.
"The increase in the disregards also mean that 5,280 current recipients will receive a higher payment from today. Consequently, 99 per cent of existing Carer's Allowance recipients will now get the full rate of their entitlement.
"These means test improvements are in addition to changes made to the Carer's Support Grant, which was increased to €2,000, its highest ever level, and paid to 138,000 carers in June.
"The Programme for Government commits to significantly increase 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.
"The changes I am announcing today represent a significant step forward towards reaching this commitment."
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