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Carer's Allowance is a weekly social welfare payment to people who are caring for a person who needs support because of their age, disability or illness (including mental illness).
Your income must be below a certain amount to get Carer’s Allowance - see ‘How your income is assessed for Carer’s Allowance’ below.
If you are caring for 2 or more people, your rate of Carer's Allowance is increased by 50% (maximum) each week.
If you are getting another social welfare payment, you may get half-rate Carer’s Allowance.
If you get Carer's Allowance you may also get the Free Household Benefits Package (if you are living with the person you are caring for) and Free Travel.
Carer's Support GrantThe Carer's Support Grant is automatically paid to people getting Carer's Allowance in June each year. You can find out more about the Carer's Support Grant.
Budget 2024: changes to Carer's AllowanceIt was announced in Budget 2024 that people on the maximum rate of Carer's Allowance will get an increase of €12 per week from January 2024. There will be proportional increases for qualified adults and people on reduced rates of payment.
From June 2024, the income disregard for Carer's Allowance will increase to €450 for a single person and €900 for a couple.
How to qualify for Carer's Allowance
To be entitled to Carer's Allowance you must:
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Carer's Allowance is a weekly social welfare payment to people who are caring for a person who needs support because of their age, disability or illness (including mental illness).
Your income must be below a certain amount to get Carer’s Allowance - see ‘How your income is assessed for Carer’s Allowance’ below.
If you are caring for 2 or more people, your rate of Carer's Allowance is increased by 50% (maximum) each week.
If you are getting another social welfare payment, you may get half-rate Carer’s Allowance.
If you get Carer's Allowance you may also get the Free Household Benefits Package (if you are living with the person you are caring for) and Free Travel.
Carer's Support GrantThe Carer's Support Grant is automatically paid to people getting Carer's Allowance in June each year. You can find out more about the Carer's Support Grant.
Budget 2024: changes to Carer's AllowanceIt was announced in Budget 2024 that people on the maximum rate of Carer's Allowance will get an increase of €12 per week from January 2024. There will be proportional increases for qualified adults and people on reduced rates of payment.
From June 2024, the income disregard for Carer's Allowance will increase to €450 for a single person and €900 for a couple.
How to qualify for Carer's Allowance
To be entitled to Carer's Allowance you must:
- Be age 18 or over
- Pass a means test - see ‘How your income is assessed for Carer’s Allowance?' below
- Provide full-time care to a person who is not living in a hospital, convalescent home or other similar institution – see ‘What is full-time care?’ below.
- Not live in a hospital, convalescent home or other similar institution.
- Not be employed, self-employed, do voluntary work, training or any education courses for more than 18.5 hours a week.
- Be habitually resident in the State
- Age 16 or over and so incapacitated as to require full-time care and attention or
- Under 16 and qualify for Domiciliary Care Allowance.
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