Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 June 2025
110. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection If consideration will be given to abolishing the means test for carers who provide an invaluable service to the State (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33087/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Carer's Allowance is the main scheme by which my department provides income support to carers in the community. There are currently over 100,000 people in receipt of Carer's Allowance. Expenditure in 2025 is estimated to be over €1.24 billion.
Carer’s Allowance aims to provide income support to those whose earning ability is greatly impacted by their caring responsibilities, ensuring ongoing care for those in need.
The Programme for Government has set out a timeline 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 the Government.
There have been a number of significant changes made to the Carer’s Allowance means test in recent years. From July, there will be a further increase which will see the weekly income disregard rise from €450 to €625 for a single person, and from €900 to €1,250 for carers with a spouse or partner. This amounts to cumulative increases to the disregards of €292.50 and €585 respectively since June 2022.
These increases make the scheme accessible to more people and may increase payment rates for those currently on a reduced rate. A carer in a two-adult household with an income of approximately €69,000 will still retain their full carers payment. The same carer with an income of €97,000 will retain a partial payment. Before the disregards were increased in June 2022 these figures stood at €37,000 and €60,000 respectively for a carer in a two-adult household couple.
It is important that we make progress in a way that is sustainable, and which balances the allocation of the available budgetary resources each year across all priorities. This includes funding services to other vulnerable groups. That is why we have committed to a measured and phased approach over a number of budgets.
My department also provides non-means-tested supports to carers including Carer’s Benefit and the annual Carer’s Support Grant of €2,000 which was recently paid to over 138,000 carers on 5 June.
Disability Allowance has one of the highest capital disregards operated by the Department of Social Protection. A recipient can have up to €50,000 in savings and still receive the full rate of payment. This is compared to €20,000 for most social welfare payments.
The Programme for Government also includes a commitment to reform the Disability Allowance Payment, to remove anomalies in the current means test and to introduce an annual cost of disability support payment. These commitments will be progressed over the lifetime of the Government, having regard to the available resources.
I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
ENDS
