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Know Your Rights has been compiled by Kerry Citizens Information Service which provides a free and confidential service to the public…
Ciara O’Gorman, Development Manager with South Munster Citizens Information Service outlines the supports currently available for carers.
“People providing care for family members often are so busy with their caring responsibilities that they don’t always have time to look at what supports are available to them. Some people don’t even think of themselves as carers, as they consider their work as part of an unspoken promise to be there for loved ones when they need them.
“Today I hope to give people a quick overview of what is available for carers so that they can get in contact with their local Citizens Information Centre to get more details.”
The two main social welfare payments for carers providing full-time care are Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Benefit. You may also qualify for an annual Carer’s Support Grant.
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Carer’s Benefit
Carer’s Benefit is a short-term payment paid for up to 2 years to people who give up employment to care on a full-time basis for someone who requires full-time care and attention.
It is PRSI based and you have to have a certain number of PRSI contributions paid. People who are self-employed and paying a Class S PRSI contribution will not qualify.
Carer’s Allowance
On the other hand, Carer’s Allowance is a payment for people who are caring on a full-time basis for someone who requires full-time care and attention and will require it for at least 12 months.
You must satisfy a means test and the habitual residency condition to qualify for Carer’s Allowance.
“To claim either payment, you must complete an application form and submit to DSP. It is important that you put in detailed information in relation to the level of care that you are providing to support your application. If you need a hand filling out the form, please call your local CIC where staff will be happy to help.”
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Full Time Care
A person is seen as needing full-time care when they need continual supervision to avoid danger to themselves or they need continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day with normal bodily functions.
Ciara elaborates “For example, help to walk and get about, eat or drink, get washed or dressed. The Department of Social Protection will decide if the person needs full-time care and their decision will be based on the information that the carer provides on the application form.”
The person being cared for must have their doctor complete, sign and stamp the Medical Report which is part of the Carer’s Benefit and Carer’s Allowance application form.
“This Medical Report is not needed if the person being cared for is a child who is getting Domiciliary Care Allowance” advises Ciara and the carer or the person needing care must not be living in a hospital or institution.
However, you can continue to be seen as providing full-time care if you or the person being cared for is having medical or other treatment in a hospital or institution for not longer than 13 weeks.
“The time spent providing care must not be less than 35 hours per week and if you are away, you must be able to arrange full-time care for the person you care for.”
Carer’s Leave
You do not have to give up your job if you are applying for Carer’s Benefit. Carer’s leave allows employees to leave work temporarily or reduce their hours to provide full-time care and attention for someone who needs it.
You can take Carer’s Leave for a minimum of 13 weeks and up to a maximum of 104 weeks. Carer’s Leave from employment is unpaid but your job will be kept open for when you return.
“However to get carer’s leave, you must have worked for your employer for 12 months without a break in employment” warns Ciara.
Employers are entitled to at least 6 weeks written notice from the employee of the intention to take Carer’s Leave. The person you will be caring for must need full-time care and attention. A deciding officer of the DSP will decide whether they need this care after checking with their GP.
If you have a complaint or dispute with your employer over carer’s leave, you should raise it with your employer first. If you cannot resolve the issue directly with your employer, you can make a formal complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).
Working Whilst Caring
“We are often asked if a carer can do any paid work while on Carer’s Benefit or Carer’s Allowance?” says Ciara. “You can be employed, self-employed, in training or in education outside the home for up to a maximum of 18.5 hours per week.
If on Carer’s Benefit, the maximum amount you can earn is €350 per week after tax, PRSI & Union dues are deducted.
Changes to Carer’s Allowance in 2024
From June 2024, the weekly income disregard for Carer’s Allowance will increase to €450 for a single person and €900 for a couple.
If you currently get a reduced rate of Carer’s Allowance due to your means, your payment may increase from 6 June 2024. Your payment will be automatically adjusted to reflect the new income disregard, so you don’t need to re-apply.
The Means Test for Carer’s Allowance?
First of all, like Carer’s Benefit, you must be providing full-time care and attention to a person who requires that level of care. In addition however, you must be habitually resident in the State and pass a means test. In certain circumstances you may be eligible for Half Rate Carer’s Allowance
The main sources of income included in the means test for Carer’s Allowance are any cash income and capital income – this includes savings, investments, shares or any property you have (but not your own home).
The first €50,000 of your capital is not taken into account, or €100,000 if you’re in a couple. Any payment from the Department of Social Protection is not included in the means test.
Also, you can get up to €14,000 per year for renting out a room in your own home without it affecting your payment. Citizens Information staff can help you work out how the means test would apply in your individual situation
Rates of Payment
Carer’s Benefit is €249 per week if caring for one person and €373.50 if caring for two people. Carer’s Allowance is €248 per week if caring for one person and €372, if caring for two people. You can also get a child increase if you have a qualified child and the Carer’s Allowance goes to a higher rate when you are aged over 66.
Half-Rate Carer’s Allowance
If you are in one of the following situations you may qualify for half-rate Carer’s Allowance:
• Already getting Carer’s Allowance but also meet the qualifying criteria for another social welfare payment
• Changed from another social welfare payment to get Carer’s Allowance
• Caring for someone and being claimed for by a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant
• Getting a social welfare payment other than Carer’s Allowance and caring for someone.
Annual Carer’s Support Grant
The Carer’s Support Grant is paid to carers once a year by the Department of Social Protection (DSP). It used to be called the Respite Care Grant. The Carer’s Support Grant is €1,850 and it is paid once a year, usually on the first Thursday in June, for each person you are caring for. It is not taxable.
You cannot be working outside the home for more than 18.5 hours or signing for Jobseeker’s Credits. “You can apply for this payment even if you are not receiving Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Benefit” and this is a key point that a lot of people are not aware of” says Ciara.
You can apply for a Carer’s Support Grant for any given year from April of that year until 31 December of the following year e.g. you can apply for the Carer’s Support Grant for 2024 at any time from April 2024 up until 31 December 2025.
Living Arrangements
“A lot of people think that you have to live with the person you are caring for but this is not the case” says Ciara.
“Non-resident care situations may require investigation by a Social Welfare Inspector before a decision can be made by the Deciding Officer. A direct system of communication must exist between the carer’s residence and that of the care recipient and this may be a telephone or alarm-type system. One last point to note is that the care recipient must not already be receiving full-time care and attention within his or her own residence from another person.”
Additional Supports
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. If you get Carer’s Benefit or Carer’s Allowance, at full or half-rate, you are eligible for a GP visit card.
If the person that you are caring for passes away, your Carer’s Benefit payment will continue for 6 weeks following the death, while Carer’s Allowance continues for 12 weeks.
If you would like more information about any of the issues covered here, please contact your local CIC. Staff will discuss your current circumstances with you and make you aware how the various schemes apply to your personal circumstances so you can fully consider your options.
At the end of the day, you will decide what option is best for you – but hopefully with our help, you will make your decision based on having all the information you need to make an informed choice.
Deirdre Vann Bourke, Kerry Citizens Information Manager, said: For anyone needing information, advice or have an advocacy issue, you can call a member of the local Citizens Information team in Kerry on 0818 07 7860, they will be happy to assist and make an appointment if necessary.
The offices are staffed from Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm. Alternatively you can email on tralee@citinfo.ie or log on to www.citizensinformation.ie for further information.
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