Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2026
710. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the means test for carer’s allowance, in light of concerns that the current thresholds are excluding many full-time family carers who provide essential care in the home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14573/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Carer’s Allowance is the main scheme by which my department provides income support to carers. Expenditure on Carer’s Allowance in 2026 is estimated to exceed €1.4 billion. At the end of January there were more than 105,000 carers receiving this payment.
The Programme for Government has set 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 process is underway. From last July the amount of weekly earnings disregarded was increased to €625 for a single person and €1,250 for a couple. As part of Budget 2026, I announced further improvements to the Carer’s Allowance means test that will be introduced this July. 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.
It is important to acknowledge that the income disregards for Carer’s Allowance are already the highest within the social welfare system.
The upcoming change will amount to cumulative increases to the disregards of over 200% since June 2022.
These increases will result in more carers qualifying for Carer’s Allowance, even those in households that are regarded as having relatively high incomes. For example, from July, 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.
Removing the means test is a major reform of the Carer's Allowance payment, and of the Irish social welfare system generally. It is important to acknowledge that there are wider implications of departing from a means-tested approach above the cost exposure and for this reason the income disregard is being abolished in a measured way over a number of Budgets.
The recent improvements outlined are evidence of the Government’s determination to deliver on its commitment to phase out the Carer's Allowance means test over the lifetime of the Government. We will continue to progress this commitment in light of the prevailing budgetary conditions.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
