Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 June 2026
69. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps that will be taken towards abolishing the means test for carers’ allowance in the Budget; if he has considered abolishing the means test for disability allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46272/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Carer’s Allowance is the main scheme by which the Department provides income support to carers.
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 already underway. 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 next month. From the 2nd of 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.
Removing the means test is a significant shift in policy direction and there may be further implications above the cost exposure. For this reason, the income disregard is being abolished in a measured way over a number of Budgets, having regard to the prevailing budgetary conditions.
The Programme for Government and the new National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025 - 2030 both contain a commitment to reform the Disability Allowance Payment and remove anomalies in the current means test for the payment. There is no commitment to abolish the means test for Disability Allowance.
My Department is currently reviewing means testing across all its social assistance schemes. The outcome of this review will be used to inform decisions regarding any further changes to means testing.
