Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 9 September 2024
919. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if the reintroduction of a payment for carers will be considered (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34043/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra939. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider the reintroduction of the household benefits package for carers who do not live with the person they care for, which was scrapped in 2012 for new carers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34193/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 919 and 939 together.
The Household Benefits Package comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. The Department of Social Protection will spend approximately €294 million this year on the Household Benefits Package for over 523,000 customers.
People over the age of 70 receive the Household Benefits Package, with one package provided per household. The package is also available to people living in the State aged 66-69 years who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments or who satisfy a means test. The package is available to some people under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments.
The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, at an estimated cost of €382 million in 2024. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. Only one allowance is paid per household.
Any decision to extend the qualifying conditions for the Household Benefits package to include those who are in receipt of Carers Allowance and who don’t live with the caree or to adjust the rules of the Fuel Allowance scheme to make Carer's Allowance a qualifying payment would have be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.
The Government values the role of carers very much and it is for this reason that they receive significant income supports from the Department. In addition to Carer’s Allowance, carers receive additional support in the form of free travel and household benefits (for those who live with the person for whom they care) and the annual Carer's Support Grant (€1,850) in respect of each person for whom they care.
The maximum rates of Carer's Allowance for those aged under 66, at €248 (€286 for carers aged 66 or over) for where one person is being cared for, is significantly higher than that for most schemes administered by the department.
The means test for carers allowance has been significantly eased over the years and is now one of the most generous means tests in the social welfare system. From January 2024 the income disregard for a single person was increased to €450 and €900 for a couple.
Carers can also engage in employment, self-employment, training or education courses outside the home for not more than 18.5 hours a week.
Finally, the Department of Social Protection provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who have an essential need which they cannot meet from their own resources. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers and can include payments towards essential heating or repair costs.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
