Varadkar confirms Annual Carer’s Support Grant starts today to around 100,000 people

Minister for Social protection Leo Varadkar has confirmed that the annual Carer’s Support Grant will be paid by the Department of Social Protection to almost 100,000 carers today.

The €1,700 grant is paid to carers providing full-time care to a person with a disability. It is not means-tested and does not depend on your social insurance status.

A number of carers who are providing care for two or more people will receive a grant for each of the people they are caring for.

The Carer’s Support Grant is paid automatically on the first Thursday in June to people in receipt of Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and Prescribed Relative’s Allowance. Other people who don’t receive a social welfare payment but who are providing full time care and attention may also be eligible.

Minister Varadkar said: “This is a really important payment which is paid automatically to a huge range of carers. It’s designed to give them, or the people for whom they care, access to respite care. It’s not means-tested and it doesn’t depend on your income or how many social insurance payments you have made.

“The Government is providing €181 million for the Carer’s Support Grant this year which is paid automatically to carers who are already in receipt of schemes like Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit and Domiciliary Care Allowance. Last year the grant was restored to its previous level of €1,700.

“Other full-time carers who are not eligible for these schemes can also apply for the Grant. I want to encourage all full time carers who may not be getting any of these payments to apply. An applicant can find out more information and download a Carer’s Support Grant application form from www.welfare.ie or get one from their social welfare local office, Intreo Centre or Citizen’s Information Centre. Carers who provide full-time care for more than one person may also be entitled to €1,700 for each person they are caring for.”

This year, the Department of Social Protection will pay over €1bn in supports to customers who are getting Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and Carer’s Support Grant. This is an increase from under €752 million in 2010 or 39% over the period.

The current maximum weekly rate of Carer’s Benefit is €210. The current maximum rate of Carer's Allowance for carers who are under age 66 is €209 per week while a carer aged 66 or over gets €247 per week. Carers who are receiving the Carer's Allowance and who live with the person they are caring for may also receive the Household Benefits package of schemes which includes the Electricity/Gas Allowance and free TV Licence. Every carer who is getting a Carer's Allowance payment also gets Free Travel.

More information and application forms for the Carer's Support Grant can be downloaded at welfare.ie or at a social welfare local office, Intreo Centre or Citizens Information Centre.

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