Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 October 2025
214. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated additional number of recipients that will qualify for the carer's allowance after the income disregards increase in July 2026. [55669/25]
View answerBudget 2026 increased the earnings disregard for Carer’s Allowance by €375 to €1,000 for a single person and by €750 to €2,000 for a couple. This amounts to cumulative increases to the disregards of €667.50 and €1,335 respectively, since June 2022.
The measure will benefit both those current recipients who are on a means-reduced rate and who may see an increase in their payment rate, whether they be full-rate or half-rate recipients, and those people making new claim applications subject to a means reduced rate in 2026, including those whose earnings may been in excess the previous maximum disregard level.
The estimated number of people who will benefit from the measure in 2026 is approximately 3,000. The Department will continue to monitor the inflow into the scheme to assess any change in trends.
