Carer's Support Grant

The Carer’s Support Grant is an annual payment made to carers who get Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit or Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA).

It can also be paid to certain other carers providing full-time care. Carers can use the grant in whatever way they wish.

You automatically qualify for the Carer’s Support Grant if you get Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit or Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA).

If you are not getting any of these payments, you may still qualify if you meet these conditions if:

• you are 16 or over
• you ordinarily reside in the Irish State
• you care for the person full time
• you have been caring for the person for a continuous period of at least six months, and this period includes the first Thursday in June
• you live with the person you are caring for or you are contactable quickly by a direct system of communication such as a telephone or an alarm

You do not qualify for Carer's Support Grant if you are:

• working, self-employed, or on a training or education course for more than 18.5 hours a week. (Note: you must show us that the person you are caring for has adequate care while you are working, on an education course, or both)
• getting Jobseeker's Allowance or Jobseeker's Benefit
• signing on for credited contributions
• living in a hospital, convalescent home or similar institution

If you are caring for more than one person, you will get a grant for each of them.

The Carer’s Support Grant is €1,850 for each person you are caring for. It is paid once each year, usually on the first Thursday in June. Following Budget 2025 measures, the rate of payment is €2,000 from June 2025.

The Carer’s Support Grant is fully exempt from income tax, PRSI and USC.

If you are getting Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit, or Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA), you do not need to apply for the Carer’s Support Grant. We will automatically pay you every June.

If you are not getting any of these payments, fill in the application form below, for each person you are caring for.

Please send your completed CSG1 application form with the relevant supporting documents, to:

Operational guidelines describe the processes and procedures that staff in the department follow when carrying out their work.

• Operational Guidelines: Carer's Support Grant
• Operational Guidelines: Payment-related issues