Life can be unfair. Things can and do change in the blink of an eye. Suddenly finding yourself having to provide full-time home care and home help for a loved one is one of those life-changing moments.
Apart from the emotional impact, there’s a real financial burden to consider. It can be very scary, but a support grant is available. Read on to find out more on the Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Benefit.
What is a Carer’s Allowance?
Carer’s Allowance is an amount paid to people on lower incomes who are providing full-time home care assistance for someone. The person may be in need due to:
- A disability
- Their age
- A physical or mental illness
Who Can Apply for Carer’s Allowance?
Eligibility for Carer’s Allowance is based on meeting specific conditions. These include:
- You must be over 18
- Habitually resident in the Irish State.
- Neither you nor the person you’re caring for can be living in a convalescent home or a similar type of institution.
- You must be living with or in a position to offer full-time care and attention to the person involved.
- If the person you’re caring for is undergoing medical or other treatment, provided this is for no more than 13 weeks, the state may still see you as providing full-time care and attention.
Can You Work and Get Carer’s Allowance in Ireland?
You must not be working, self-employed, or on any kind of educational or training course for longer than 18.5 hours a week.
If you do work or are attending a course for 18.5 hours or less, there is a condition attached.
This means that you must be able to prove that the person you are caring for has adequate care in your absence. Comfort Keepers’ Healthcare Assistants may be able to help.
Income Assessment and Social Welfare Payments
You will also have to satisfy a Means Test. This will look at your income and that of your spouse or partner. The results will have a bearing on the size of any Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Benefit allowance granted.
You may already be getting certain social welfare carer’s allowance. If so, you will be able to keep your principal social welfare payment and get the “half-rate” Carer’s Allowance, too.
Requirements for Individuals Receiving Carer’s Allowance
You’ll need to consider their circumstances as well as your own to apply for. They must be either:
- Over 16 and in need of full-time care and attention or
- Under 16 and receiving Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA)
- Require constant supervision to prevent endangering themselves
- Need frequent help during the day with normal bodily functions
For instance, caring for the elderly in their own home requires constant supervision to prevent endangering themselves. They must be likely to need full-time care and attention for at least a year.
If the person goes full-time into a nursing home, payment of the allowance may continue for a period of 12 weeks. You’ll need to get a letter from the nursing home confirming the admittance date to qualify for the state pension.
How Much Is Carer’s Allowance in Ireland?
Here are the maximum personal full weekly rates of payment someone can receive:
- Carers aged under 66, caring for 1 person: €248
- Carers aged under 66, caring for 2 or more people: €372
- Carers aged 66 and over, caring for 1 person: €286
- Carers aged 66 and over, caring for 2 or more people: €429
- Child support payment for children under 12: €50
- Child support payment for children over 12: €62
Simply divide the maximum full weekly rates by 2 for the equivalent “half-rates.”
How Do I Apply for a Carer’s Allowance?
Fill out the CR1 application form for Carer’s Allowance. Include a doctor’s medical report that the person you will be caring for should also sign. You do not need a medical report if you are caring for a child who is getting DCA.
What is Carer’s Benefit?
This benefit is for insured people who have to leave work or decrease their hours to look after those in need of full-time care. It is payable for up to 2 years, which you can split into separate periods.
You may need to make a claim for Carer’s Benefit for less than 6 weeks in a row in any single period. If so, you must wait for an additional 6 weeks before claiming for the same person again.
You may also be caring for more than one person. In this instance, you will still get a payment for 2 years for each person you care for, even if the periods overlap.
Carer’s Benefit Payment Rates
Carer’s Benefit is €220 a week per single care recipient. Someone caring for two or more people may receive a higher rate of €330 a week. If you have children, you may be able to apply for an increase for a Qualified Child.
Who Qualifies for Carer’s Benefit?
To qualify for a Carer’s Benefit, certain criteria must be met regarding both your circumstances and the person you are caring for. Below are the key requirements you need to fulfil:
- You must be over 16 years old.
- Have been in employment for at least 8 weeks in the previous 6 months before starting Carer’s leave.
- You must also have been working a minimum of 16 hours a week (or 32 hours a fortnight) within the same 26 weeks. The maximum you can earn is €332.50 a week after tax.
- The person receiving the care must have a disability that meets the full-time care and attention conditions.
Conditions for Working and Receiving Carer’s Benefit
You can’t work even voluntarily or pursue any training that takes up more than 18.5 hours a week. The limit used to be 15 hours a week.
Neither you nor the person you’re caring for can be living in a hospital or similar institution. You must be living with or able to give full-time care and attention to the person needing care. You must meet all social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
If you look after a child who qualifies for DCA, you might still be able to get Carer’s Benefit. It’s not necessary to be the person who receives this allowance to be the child’s carer. If you go away, you must be able to organise sufficient full-time care and attention while absent.
How Do I Apply for Carer’s Benefit?
It’s best to apply for a Carer’s Benefit at least 6 weeks before leaving work. Include a doctor’s report that the person you will be caring for countersigns. You can download the application form for Carer’s Benefit here.
Connect With Us
If you’re ready to provide your loved one with compassionate, professional care, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Interested in joining our award-winning team? Apply now or email your CV to recruitment@comfortkeepers.ie and become part of a community dedicated to making a difference.
