Latest news with #Carer'sBenefit
Extra.ie
06-07-2025
- General
- Extra.ie
Major changes to Carer's Allowance and Carer's Benefit payments take effect
Carer's Allowance and Carer's Benefit recipients are being warned of changes to the payments which came in earlier in the month. As of July 3, the Carer's Allowance income disregard has increased. The income limit for the Carer's Benefit has also increased since the beginning of the month. The Allowance is a weekly social welfare payment to people caring for someone due to age; disability or illness while the Benefit is pay for those who have had to leave or reduce their working hours in order to care for someone. Carer's Allowance and Carer's Benefit recipients are being warned of changes to the payments which came in earlier in the month. Pic: Getty Images To qualify for Carer's Allowance, your income must be below a certain amount and will be assessed by the Department of Social Protection. The DSP adds all sources of assessable income together to get your total means. As of July 3, if you are single and receiving the allowance, €625 of your total weekly income is not taken into account, while it will be the first €1,250 of your combined total weekly income for couples. To qualify for Carer's Allowance, your income must be below a certain amount and will be assessed by the Department of Social Protection. Pic: Getty Images If your means if over a certain amount, you may be entitled to a reduced rate of the Allowance, similarly if you are in receipt for another social welfare payment you may get reduced Carer's Allowance. If you think you are eligible for this payment, you will need to fill in the Carer's Allowance (CR1) form. To be eligible for Carer's Benefit you must be over 16 and have enough social insurance (PRSI) contributions. You can get the benefit for two years for each person you are caring for. Neither your nor the person you are caring for can live in a hospital in order for you to be eligible for the Benefit, and the person must also require full-time care. Previously, eligibility required recipients to not earn more than €450 per week after tax. As of July 3, this has been increased to €625. To apply for Carer's Benefit, the Carer's Benefit (CARB1) form needs to be filled in.
Dublin Live
05-07-2025
- Business
- Dublin Live
Social welfare Ireland: Major changes to scheme with thousands to receive higher payment
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Major changes were implemented to the Carer's Allowance this week that will make thousands of recipients eligible to receive higher rates of payment. The changes to the scheme will also mean more Carers can now avail of Carer's Allowance. The weekly income disregard for Carer's Allowance is now increased by €175 to €625 per week for single carers, and by €350 to €1,250 per week for a couple. The changes announced mean that 5,280 carers will receive an increase in their Carer's Allowance payment from this week. Meanwhile, the Carer's Benefit income limit will also increase from €450 to €625. Announcing the introduction of the changes today, Minister Calleary said: 'I am delighted to announce these significant increases to the weekly income disregards for Carer's Allowance. "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% 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.' Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Irish Daily Mirror
03-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Carer's Allowance income disregard change leads to boost for thousands
The weekly income disregard for the carer's allowance will increase and lead to over 5,200 carers receiving higher rates of payments from Thursday. 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."
Irish Independent
29-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Kerry carers can earn more and still keep allowance under new changes
Announced last Thursday, the income disregard will rise from €450 per week to €625 per week for single carers, and from €900 per week to €1,250 per week for carers with a spouse or partner. In practical terms, the changes would see a carer in a two-adult household earning up to €69,000 receive the full carer's allowance, while those with incomes up to €97,000 may still qualify for a partial payment. The new changes will immediately benefit 196 family carers in Kerry who are currently receiving the carer's allowance and will receive higher payments due to the threshold increase. The minister said the reforms will also extend eligibility for the carer's allowance 'to more people in Kerry than ever before', once the rules come into effect on July 3. It's believed that 99 per cent of current recipients, nationally, will qualify for the full-rate payment. Welcoming the changes, Minister for Children, Disability, and Equality Norma Foley, said carers make a vital contribution to the wellbeing of their loved ones and also to wider society. She added that Fianna Fáil remains committed to abolishing the means test for carer's allowance and this latest announcement is a positive step forward in that direction. 'The change represents an 88 percent rise in income thresholds since June 2022, reflecting Fianna Fáil's continued commitment to supporting carers in a meaningful and practical way,' Minister Foley said. The carer's allowance supports over 100,000 carers across Ireland. In 2025, spending on this allowance is expected to exceed €1.24 billion. In addition, the Department of Social Protection provides non-means-tested supports such as the Carer's Benefit and the annual Carer's Support Grant of €2,000, which was recently paid to more than 138,000 carers on June 5.
Irish Independent
06-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Over 5,000 Meath carers recieve highest-ever €2,000 grant
Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary announced the €313 million payout, which is tax-free and available to full-time carers who look after an older person or someone with a disability. In Meath, 5,045 carers are set to benefit from the grant. The grant is paid automatically to recipients of Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit and Domiciliary Care Allowance. It is also available to other full-time carers not receiving these payments. Carers looking after more than one person will receive a €2,000 grant for each individual in their care. Announcing the payment, Minister Calleary said: 'This is one of a number of improvements introduced this year in recognition of the vital role of carers and the contribution they make to society. 'The Grant will be paid automatically to those who are receiving the Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit and Domiciliary Care Allowance schemes. It is also available to other full-time carers not receiving these payments and is paid in respect of each person being cared for.' He added: 'As Minister for Social Protection, I recognise the crucial role family carers play in our society. You dedicate yourselves to providing care to support your loved ones and I want to take this opportunity to thank all carers in Ireland for the vital and valuable contribution you play in our society and in our local communities.' Since its introduction in 1999, the Carer's Support Grant has become one of the most significant direct supports for family carers. Originally called the Respite Care Grant, it was renamed in 2016 to better reflect the nature of the assistance it provides.
