Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 June 2026
238. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the merits of allowing for a savings disregard in relation to the means test for carer’s allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44677/26]
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.
There is already a savings disregard in the Carer's Allowance means test. The capital disregard for Carer's Allowance is one of the highest in the social welfare system. For the purposes of the means test, capital includes savings, investments and property, excluding a person's primary home. The first €50,000 of capital is fully disregarded in the Carer's Allowance means test. This equates to €100,000 in the case of a couple.
In addition 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 this Government.
Significant progress in this regard has already been made. For example, 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 changes to the Carer’s Allowance means test. From next month 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.
The latest reforms to the means test are the largest ever increases in the Carer’s Allowance income disregard and will result in more carers qualifying for Carer’s Allowance, even those in households that are regarded as having relatively high incomes. For example, a carer in a two-adult household with an income of approximately €110,000, with savings as outlined, will retain their full Carer’s Allowance payment and even with an income of €138,000 will retain a partial payment.
