Pension Caring Supports

Carers who took time out of work to provide care on a full-time basis may be entitled to apply for Pension Caring Supports to help qualify for a State Pension (Contributory) depending on the circumstances of the care.

The Pension Caring Supports application covers three schemes:

• Long-Term Carers Contributions
• Homemaker’s Scheme
• HomeCaring Periods

Depending on your circumstances, you may be assessed for one or more of the schemes outlined above. You will only receive a decision in relation to the schemes you are assessed for.

Care of your children

If you took time out of work to provide full-time care for your children while they were under 12, you may be entitled to apply for the Homemaker’s Scheme or HomeCaring Periods to fill the gap in your contribution record when applying for your pension.

Please submit your Pension Caring Supports application to be assessed.

Care of a person who is ill or disabled

If you provided full-time care to someone who was ill or disabled, you may be entitled to apply for the Homemaker’s Scheme or HomeCaring Periods or for Long-Term Carers Contribution Periodsto fill the gap in your contribution record when applying for your pension.

The Long-Term Carers Contribution Scheme makes it easier for a carer to qualify for a higher rate of State Pension (Contributory) when you reach pension age.

You can be awarded a Long-Term Carers Contribution for each week that you provided care for an incapacitated child or adult that required full-time care and attention.

Please note: Long-Term Carers Contributions can only be used for State Pension (Contributory) eligibility once you have provided 20 years (1040 weeks) of care.

Read more about the eligibility criteria for Long-Term Carers Contributions here.

The Homemaker’s Scheme and HomeCaring Periods make it easier for you as a homemaker or home carer to qualify for a higher rate of State Pension (Contributory) when you reach pension age.

The Homemaker’s Scheme or HomeCaring Periods can be awarded in the instance where you were caring for someone in the one of the categories below:

• a child or children under 12 years of age, or
• a child or children over 12 years of age who needed an increased level of care, or
• an adult who needed an increased level of care

Please note: The Homemaker's Scheme was introduced on 6 April 1994. Only periods of care you provided after this date can be taken into account, up to a maximum of 20 years.

You can only be awarded HomeCaring Periods if you were born on or after 1 September 1946. A HomeCaring period may be awarded for each week not already covered by a paid or credited social insurance contribution.

Read more about the eligibility criteria for the Homemaker's Schemehere.

Read more about the eligibility criteria for HomeCaring Periodshere.

The quickest way to apply for Pension Caring Supportsis online. You must have a verified MyGovID accountto use MyWelfare.ie.

If you are unable to apply online, the Pension Caring Supports application form can be requested from the Pension Caring Supports by email.