Social Welfare Eligibility

Thursday, 15 January 2026

Questions (32, 68, 69, 92)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

32. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe for abolishing the means test for carer's allowance applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2519/26]

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Darren O'Rourke

Question:

68. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to remove the means test for carer's allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1778/26]

View answer

Louis O'Hara

Question:

69. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Social Protection when the means test for the carer’s allowance will be abolished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2322/26]

View answer

Thomas Gould

Question:

92. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeline for the abolition of the means test for carers. [2792/26]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 32, 68, 69 and 92 together.

The Carer’s Allowance scheme is the main scheme by which the Department provides income support to carers. Expenditure on the scheme in 2026 is estimated at over €1.4 billion.

The primary objective of the Carer’s Allowance payment is to provide an income support to people whose earning capacity is substantially reduced because they cannot work full-time due to their caring responsibilities.

The Programme for Government clearly sets out a timeframe which commits to significantly increasing the income disregards for Carer’s Allowance in each Budget, with a view to phasing out the means test during the lifetime of this Government.

This is a major change to the Carer's Allowance, and to the Irish social welfare system generally. It is important that we make progress in a way that is sustainable, and which does not unduly limit our scope to support other vulnerable groups.

The process is well underway. From July last year the amount of weekly earnings disregarded was increased to €625 for a single person and €1,250 for a couple.

More recently, as part of Budget 2026, I announced further improvements to the Carer’s Allowance means test. For carers who work outside the home, the weekly income disregard will increase by 60% from €625 to €1,000 for a single person, and from €1,250 to €2,000 for carers who are part of couple.

Since June 2022, there have been cumulative increases to the disregards of over 200%.

The changes to the means test announced in Budget 2026 are the largest ever increases in the Carer’s Allowance income disregard and will result in more carers qualifying for Carer’s Allowance. In addition, many carers on a reduced rate will see their payments increase.

For example, a carer in a two-adult household with an income of approximately €110,000 will retain their full Carer’s Allowance payment and even with an income of €138,000 will retain a partial payment.

The latest changes are evidence of the Government’s determination to deliver on its commitment to eliminate the means test over our term. We will continue to do so in a progressive manner, in light of the prevailing budgetary conditions.

I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.

Question No. 33 answered with Question No. 28.