Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 October 2025
266. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the phasing out of the carers allowance means test, as committed to in the Programme for Government; if there is a timeline for this commitment to be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56298/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government has clearly 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.
As part of Budget 2026, we are increasing the income disregard for a single person by €375 per week to €1,000. That’s an increase of 60% and means that a single person who provides full time care but does some part-time work can earn over €55,000 per year from that work, and receive a full carers payment. In parallel, we are also increasing the income disregard for a couple by 60% or €750 to €2,000 per week.
These are the largest ever increases in the Carer’s Allowance income disregard and will mean that even people with what are considered to be relatively high incomes will qualify for a carer’s payment for the first time. For example, a carer in a two-adult household with an income of approximately €110,000 will still 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 pour term and will do so in a progressive manner as part of the annual budget process.
I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
