Foilsiú
Operational Guidelines: Carer's Allowance
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Ireland / United Kingdom Social Security arrangements from 1st January 2021
The European Union and the United Kingdom agreed a Trade & Cooperation Agreement which contains a Protocol on Social Security to take effect from 1st January 2021. The Protocol provides for a wide range of social security issues into the future. On the 31st December 2020, the Convention on Social Security agreed between Ireland and the United Kingdom was commenced. Together these Agreements ensure, that all existing social security arrangements for Irish & UK citizens are maintained into the future. Ireland as an EU Member State, will extend on a unilateral basis the advantages of the Convention to Union citizens, as required.
For Brexit-related information see:
For information on social welfare entitlements see:
Carer's Allowance is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care.
The Scheme was introduced on 1 November 1990 and was extended from 27th September 2007 to include half rate payment for those already in receipt of certain Social Welfare payments or in receipt of Qualified Adults payment on certain other Social Welfare payments.
Do Threoir maidir lenár Scéimeanna agus Seirbhísí: Breoiteacht, Míchumas agus Cúram
Lúnasa 2022
Íosluchtaigh nasc le haghaidh
Íoslódáil
féachaint ar an gcomhad
Amharc
The main legislative provisions relating to Carer's Allowance are contained in Chapter 8 of Part III of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005 as amended, (Sections 179 to 186A) and in Part 5 of the Third Schedule of that Act (as amended).
The main regulations are contained in Chapter 4 of Part 3 of the Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims, Payments and Control) Regulations 2007 as amended, (Articles 131 to 136).
[Otherwise known as SI 142/2007].
The scheme is administered by the Social Welfare Services Office, Ballinalee Road, Longford, N39 E4E0.
- The Carer must be at least 18 years of age.
- The Carer must satisfy a means test.
- The Carer must provide fulltime care and attention.
- The Carer must not take part in employment, self-employment, voluntary work, training or education courses which accumulate to more than 18.5 hours a week from 1st January 2020. This was 15 hours prior to 1st January 2020.
- The Carer or person being cared for must not be living in a hospital, convalescent home or other similar institution.
- The Carer must be habitually resident in Ireland.
- The person being cared for (referred to in the legislation as the Relevant Person) must be so incapacitated as to require full-time care and attention and be likely to require this full-time care and attention for at least 12 months. If under the age of 16, must be a person in respect of whom a Domiciliary Care Allowance is paid.
- Carer must be aged 18 or over
- Carer must satisfy a means test
Means for the purposes of Carer's allowance are calculated in accordance with Part 5 of the Third Schedule to the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005 (as amended).
The Carer's means are any income the Carer and/or their spouse/civil partner/cohabitant have e.g. property (except the family home), earnings, an occupational pension benefits and/or any asset that could bring in money or provide them with an income.
For a single person €450 of your gross weekly income is disregarded (not taken into account). If you are married/in a civil partnership/cohabiting the first €900 of your combined gross weekly income is disregarded. From July 2025 the weekly means disregard will increase from €450.00 to €625.00 for a single person and from €900.00 to €1250.00 for a couple. Please note that although not in legislation the following can be deducted on an operational basis from the weekly gross wage: Employees PRSI, union dues, superannuation (pension contributions), AVC’s, PRSA’s, ASC’s and a travel allowance if not being paid a travel allowance by the employer.
Any means associated with Benefit in Kind (BIK) are excluded from means assessment for Carer’s Allowance.
Scholarship payments up to a maximum of €7,000 per year paid by either the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science’s Student Accommodation Assistance Fund, or Co-operative Housing Ireland’s Scholarship Programme, are excluded from the means assessment for Carer’s Allowance.
For a single person in receipt of a social welfare payment from another state, a disregard of income from UK or EU social welfare payments up to the equivalent of the maximum rate of Irish State Pension (Contributory), plus a full rate for each qualified child where applicable, is exempt from the means test.
In the case of a person who is married, in a civil partnership or co-habiting, a disregard of any UK or EU social welfare payments received by either person up to the equivalent of the maximum rate of Irish State Pension (Contributory), plus half rate for each qualified child where applicable, is exempt. Any UK or EU social welfare payment in excess of the disregard is treated as income for the means test.
If you are getting maintenance payments these are assessed (along with any other source of income).
The actual income from investments and money in a savings account is not taken as your means. Instead, investment items such as money in a savings account, cash-in-hand or money in a current account and the cash value of investments and property (not the family home) are added together and a formula is used to work out your weekly means.
See separate operational guidelines on 'Means Assessment' for further details.
The “rent a room” means disregard may apply to Carer’s Allowance applicants who rent out a room in their own home. This allows for up to a limit of €269.23 per week in respect of income from renting a room in their own home to be disregarded. This does not apply to short-term lettings (of less than 28 consecutive days). It also does not apply if you are renting a room to your employee or to an immediate family member. Immediate family members are:
- A spouse, civil partner or cohabitant
- A child, or the spouse of your child
- A parent, step-parent or parent-in-law
- A sibling, including step-siblings or siblings-in-law
- A grandparent or your grandchild
- An aunt or uncle
- A nephew or niece
The prescribed conditions for benefitting from this disregard can be found in the Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims, Payments and Control) (Amendment) (No 10) (Income Disregard) Regulation 2022 (SI 397/22), as amended.
The following guidelines will apply when eligibility for Carer's Allowance is being considered for a carer who does not live with the person being cared for.
- A Carer must be providing full-time care and attention.
- A Carer's personal circumstances must be suitable to allow him/her to provide full time care and attention.
- Non-resident care situations may require investigation by a Social Welfare Inspector before consideration by the Deciding Officer.
- A direct system of communication must exist between the Carer's residence and that of the care recipient. This may be a telephone or alarm type system.
- The care recipient must not already be receiving full-time care and attention within his or her own residence from another person.
- Only one Carer's Allowance will be payable in respect of any one caring situation.
Legislation for Carer's Allowance states that a person being cared for shall be regarded as requiring full time care and attention where the person has such a disability that s/he requires from another person:
a) continual supervision and frequent assistance in connection with normal bodily functions, or
b) continual supervision in order to avoid danger to himself/herself.
One of the tests to decide if full-time care and attention is being provided is whether the care provided addresses the above issues.
The care provided must be, in nature, more personal care than housekeeping assistance.
The time spent providing care each week must not be less than 35 hours per week over 5-7 days.
A person can be considered to be providing full-time care and attention while they are engaged in employment, self-employment or education or training courses, as long as they:
- can show to the satisfaction of a Deciding Officer that adequate provision has been made for the care of the cared for person in their absence
And:
- the duration of time spent on these combined activities does not exceed 18.5 hours per week from 01/01/2020. (Prior to 01/01/2020 this was 15 hours.)
The Carer or person being cared for must not be resident in an Institution. For the purposes of Carer's Allowance, the legislation defines institution as meaning "a hospital, convalescent home or home for persons suffering from physical or mental disability or accommodation ancillary thereto, and any other similar establishment providing residence, maintenance or care for persons therein.
A Carer may continue to be regarded as providing full-time care and attention to a person while either s/he, or the person being cared for, is undergoing medical or other treatment, in a hospital or other institution for a period not longer than 13 weeks.
A Carer may also continue to be regarded as providing full-time care and attention where the person being cared for is attending a non-residential course of rehabilitation training, or a non-residential day care centre approved by the Minister for Health.
A Carer may also continue to be regarded as providing full-time care and attention for a period not longer than 18 months in circumstances where a child born on or after 1st January 2023 (otherwise eligible for Domiciliary Care Allowance) remains in hospital immediately after birth or, is transferred to another hospital for medical or other treatment. A carer may also continue to be regarded as providing full-time care and attention for a period not longer than 26 weeks in a twelve-month period in circumstances where a child (otherwise eligible for Domiciliary Care Allowance) is admitted to an institution on a full-time basis for the purpose of receiving medical or other treatment of a temporary nature.
Anyone in receipt of Carer’s Allowance must satisfy the habitual residence condition (HRC).
If the Department of Social Protection (DSP) needs more information to decide whether you are habitually resident in the Republic of Ireland, you may be asked to fill out the HRC1 form.
Regardless of what country you are coming from you may be asked to provide documentary evidence that shows your 'centre of interest' is now in Ireland. This evidence should show that you have moved to Ireland, you intend to settle in Ireland permanently and you do not intend to go back to live in the country you came from.
All evidence presented will be authenticated, as far as is possible, by the relevant Officer. In some cases, you may be asked to submit further documentary evidence or, a Social Welfare Inspector may investigate your application.
EU rules prevent discrimination on nationality grounds in relation to social security, so it is not possible to exempt a particular category of Irish citizens (such as returning Irish emigrants) from the habitual residence condition either in general or for Carer’s Allowance without extending the same treatment to all EU nationals. However, a person who had previously been habitually resident in the State and who moved to live and work in another country and then resumes his/her long-term residence in the State may be regarded as being habitually resident immediately on his/her return to the State. In such cases the Deciding Officer will determine the persons main centre of interest.
See separate operational guideline on 'Habitual Residence Condition' for more information.
- If the person being cared for is aged under 16 a Domiciliary Care Allowance must be in payment in respect of this person.
- The person being cared for must require full-time care and attention. This is defined in legislation as requiring from another person:
- continual supervision and frequent assistance in connection with normal bodily functions, or
- continual supervision in order to avoid danger to him/herself
and
- Requiring this level of care for a period of at least 12 months. The degree of medical incapacity and the expected duration of the incapacity must be certified by a medical doctor.
Since 14 March 2005, Carer’s Allowance is payable where a Carer shares the caring duties with another person or with an institution, on a week on/week off basis. Each Carer will share the Carer’s Allowance payment and the annual Carer’s Support Grant.
All the usual qualifying conditions for Carer's Allowance will apply to Carers availing of these arrangements. Both Carers will receive Free Travel and may receive the household benefits if they satisfy the qualifying conditions.
A claimant will be disqualified from receiving Carer’s Allowance:
- In any week where their combined activities of employment, self-employment or education or training courses exceed 18.5 hours per week from 1st January 2020. This was 15 hours prior to 1st January 2020.
- If they are not providing fulltime care and attention.
- Where the care recipient no longer requires fulltime care and attention.
- Where their means exceed the statutory limit.
- Where the Carer is resident in an institution.
- Whilst absent from the state. However, Carer’s may take 3 weeks holidays in any calendar year and receive payment.
- Where the Carer or the person being cared for are detained in legal custody or imprisoned.
A person is disqualified from payment of Carer's Allowance for any period before the date on which the claim is made. However, the claim can be backdated for up to 6 months in circumstances where "good cause" is shown for the delay in making the claim, provided the claimant can prove to the satisfaction of the Deciding Officer or Appeals Officer that s/he satisfied the qualifying conditions for receipt of payment during that period. The same procedure applies to claims for increases for qualified child/ren.
Failure to claim the Carer's Allowance at the correct time may result in loss of entitlement to the payment for the period concerned.
Lack of knowledge by itself is not regarded as sufficient reason for not claiming in time. The Department publishes information leaflets as widely as possible and advertises changes of legislation in the National Press. Information Offices are available throughout the country for people to make enquiries as to their entitlements.
Further back-dating may also be possible in certain circumstances:
- where the failure to claim within the prescribed time period arose as a result of false and misleading information being provided by staff of this department to the person or their agent
or
- the person was so incapacitated by illness or infirmity between time of entitlement and making the claim that they could not make the claim or instruct another person to make the claim on their behalf
See separate operational guideline on 'Claims and Late Claims' for more information on late claims and other circumstances in which backdated payment of the allowance or increases for qualified child/ren may be made.
Only one Carer's Allowance can be paid in respect of a person requiring full-time care and attention. If, however, the Carer is giving full-time care and attention to more than one person, the rate of Carer's Allowance payable is increased by 50% of the standard personal rate.
Two Carers who are providing full-time care on a part-time basis in an established pattern can share the Carer’s Allowance income support payment and the annual Carer’s Support Grant.
If you are caring on alternate weeks where the care recipient attends a residential institution every other week, you will receive payment of Carer's Allowance for the week you are providing the care.
From 27 September 2007, if you satisfy all the qualifying conditions you may receive a half rate payment of Carer’s Allowance and certain other Social Welfare Payments. Where a person providing care is in receipt of one other social welfare payment (except Jobseeker's Allowance, Jobseeker's Benefit, Back to Work Family Dividend or Supplementary Welfare Allowance) or is included as a Qualified Adult on their spouse/partner’s social welfare payment, they may be entitled to claim a half-rate Carer's Allowance. All the normal rules apply but payment is made at half the normal rate and there is no payment for qualified children.
It should be noted that although Carer's Allowance is paid at half-rate when the Carer is being claimed as a Qualified Adult on Jobseeker's Allowance or Jobseeker's Benefit, no such rule exists in relation to the employment schemes (Tús, Gateway, CE Scheme or Rural Social Scheme). Where a Carer’s spouse/partner is on an employment scheme, Carer's Allowance is payable at the full rate and the income/earnings of the spouse/partner are assessed as income.
Payment of Carer’s Allowance is prohibited where the Carer is receiving Jobseeker's Allowance, Jobseeker's Benefit, Back to Work Family Dividend or Supplementary Welfare Allowance or where the Carer is on a working scheme, such as a CE/Tus/RSS. If a Carer is being claimed for as a Qualified Adult on their spouse/partner’s working scheme payment they will need to contact the scheme provider to be removed from their spouse/partners payment.
Payment is made up of a personal rate and increases for a Qualified Child (IQC), where appropriate. (See "Social Welfare Rates of Payment 'SW 19' which is updated each year).
IQC is payable up to age 18, or up to end of academic year of the year in which the qualified child reaches age 22, if s/he is in full-time education by day at any university, college, school or other prescribed educational establishment.
See separate operational Operational Guidelines: Child Support Payment (previously known as Increase for a Qualified Child) for more details on Child Support Payment.
Carer's Allowance is not payable concurrently with Jobseeker's Benefit/Allowance, Working Family Payment or Back to Work Allowance.
When you qualify for Carer’s Allowance the Deciding Officer must check for overlapping payments before they can release arrears. For example, while waiting on your Carer’s Allowance application to be processed you can claim Supplementary Welfare Allowance. When your Carer’s Allowance claim is awarded, the arrears due would be the difference between two payments.
This is payable if a pensioner is age 66 or over and ordinarily resident on one of a list of specified islands off the coast of Ireland. It is not payable to those in receipt of another Social Welfare payment and Half Rate Carers Allowance. See separate operational guideline on 'Increase for Living on a Specified Island' guideline for more general information.
An increase is payable when a Carer is aged 66 and over. This is paid automatically by the department.
An increase is payable when a Carer is aged 80 and over. This is paid automatically by the department.
A person receiving Carer's Allowance will receive a free Travel Pass in his/her own right.
See separate operational guideline on 'Free Travel Scheme' for more detail.
In certain circumstances a Carer, aged 66 or over, may also qualify for:
- Free Electricity/Natural Gas/Bottled Gas Refill Allowance
- Free Television Licence
See separate operational guidelines on 'Household Benefits Package' for more detail.
The Carer’s Support Grant is an annual payment for Carers who have an entitlement to Carer’s Allowance on the first Thursday in June each year.
You do not need to apply for a Carer’s Support Grant if you qualify for Carer's Allowance. It is automatically paid on the first Thursday in June. This grant is at a fixed rate of payment.
The Carer’s Support Grant is paid for every person you care for provided you satisfy other conditions.
If you are care sharing the Carer’s Support Grant will be split proportionately. If you are care sharing with an Institution this will not be issued automatically, you must write in to inform us your care recipient was in your care on the first Thursday in June.
Payment of Carer's Allowance may continue for 12 weeks after the death of the person being cared for.
If you are care sharing, payment of Carer’s Allowance may also continue for 12 weeks after the death of the person being cared for.
Payment of Carer’s Allowance will be paid for 6 weeks after the death of the Carer to the Carer’s spouse/partner providing they are in receipt of a social welfare payment in their own right.
See separate operational guideline on "Payment Methods" in 'Operational Guidelines: Payment related issues' for more detail on after death benefits.
- GP Visit Card: A person in receipt of either Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Benefit can be registered for GP Visit Card eligibility commencing on 1st September 2018.
- Medical Card
- Housing Assistance Payment.
- Exceptional Needs Payments
- Supplementary Welfare Allowance
See separate operational guidelines on 'SWA- Rent Supplement' and 'SWA- Exceptional Needs Payments' for more information.
There is an onus on a person under Social Welfare legislation to apply for a Carer's Allowance if s/he considers that they satisfy the qualifying conditions.
The Carer's Allowance claim form, (CR1), should, in all cases, be completed in full and signed by the Carer and the person being cared for. If either the Carer or the person being cared for are unable to sign the form they should make a mark, and this should be witnessed by a person from outside the household.
The claimant is required to give his/her full name, address, date of birth, Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) and details of their means and that of their spouse/partner. Details of the person being cared for as well as details of qualified child/ren, for whom an increase is being claimed, should also be given.
If a claimant does not have a PPSN, they should contact their local Intreo Office to apply for one. The Carer’s Allowance claim cannot be processed until a PPS Number is supplied for the Carer and each cared for person.
On receipt of the claim, an acknowledgement is issued via SMS text message if there is a current mobile number on our system.
For information on late claims see above along with separate guidelines.
The claimant is required under social welfare legislation to produce certificates, documents, information and evidence as required, for the purposes of deciding the claim. Where documentation is outstanding a Deciding Officer or Social Welfare Inspector may request it. Failure to supply requested documentation or evidence may result in an application being disallowed.
The relevant documentation may be furnished after the claim has been made if it is not immediately available. It is important to ensure that the PPSN is quoted on all correspondence with the Department.
A medical certificate is incorporated into the claim form (CR 1). This must be completed and signed by a doctor attending the person(s) being cared for.
A decision on entitlement cannot be made until all the necessary documentation has been provided.
It is an offence for a person to knowingly make a false or misleading statement or to provide documents or information which s/he knows to be false in some respect for the purpose of obtaining or establishing entitlement to pension, or pension at a higher rate. A person found guilty of such an offence could be liable to a fine of €1500.00 or a term of imprisonment of up to 6 months or both. Any overpayment of pension would also be repayable to the department.
When the claim to Carer's Allowance is received in the department, it is referred to a Deciding Officer for decision. The claim is decided on the basis of the details furnished on the application form and supporting documentation supplied by the claimant, provided all relevant details are available.
The medical section attached to the claim form is examined by a departmental Medical Assessor who may give an opinion on the evidence submitted.
Where the details furnished are not to the satisfaction of the Deciding Officer e.g. full-time care and attention, residence and/or means details are not clear, further enquiries are made, either by correspondence with the claimant or by referring the file containing the claim form and supporting documentation to a Social Welfare Inspector for the area where the claimant lives. A report on means is completed by the Social Welfare Inspector, usually following an interview with the claimant. The file is returned to a Deciding Officer who then makes a decision on entitlement, provided all the relevant details are available.
Where the claim is received on a Thursday, the payment takes effect from that Thursday. Where the day on which the claim is received is a day in the week other than Thursday, the payment takes effect from the following Thursday. The same procedure applies where there is a change in the rate of payment.
Claims are decided by Deciding Officers appointed by the Minister under Section 299 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005. They are independent in the exercise of their function in deciding on entitlement to Carer's Allowance.
A written notification of the decision is issued to the claimant. Where claims are disallowed or allowed at a rate other than the maximum rate of payment, the claimant is given an explanation of the basis for the decision, in writing, including details of the means assessment.
Claimants are also advised of their right of review and/or appeal against a Deciding Officer's decision.
See separate operational guideline on 'Decision-Making' .
A person who is dissatisfied with the Deciding Officer's decision is entitled to seek a review of that decision. A review is normally carried out by a different Deciding Officer.
The review will look at all the new evidence submitted by the customer along with the original documentation provided. Following the review, the customer will be notified of the outcome in writing.
Any decision of a Deciding Officer may be subsequently revised by a Deciding Officer in the light of new information or evidence. This could arise where new information is made available as part of an appeal by the claimant. In such circumstances, a Deciding Officer may revise a decision on entitlement, if it is to the advantage of the claimant. There is also a right of appeal against a revised decision.
See separate operational guideline on 'Revised Decisions' .
A person who is dissatisfied with the Deciding Officer's decision may appeal the decision. The appeal should be made by writing to the Chief Appeals Officer, Social Welfare Appeals Office, D'Olier House, D’Olier St, Dublin 2, within 21 days of notification of the Deciding Officer's decision, stating the grounds of appeal.
Carer's Allowance is payable on Thursday of each week. It is paid weekly in advance. This means that each payment covers the Thursday through to the following Wednesday.
It can be paid by Public Services Card at a local Post Office or by electronic fund transfer (EFT) into a person’s bank, building society or credit union account.
See separate operational guideline on "Payment Methods" in 'Operational Guidelines: Payment related issues' for more details on procedures and time limits for the cashing of Carer’s Allowance.
Arrears are not calculated until the Carer’s Allowance claim has been put into payment. Any arrears of payment due, less any other payments made on your behalf for this period, and less any overpayments that have occurred, may be issued to your requested method of payment or paid by cheque.
See separate guideline on "Payment Methods" in 'Operational Guidelines: Payment related issues' for more detail.
Carer's Allowance and increases for qualified child/ren are payable as long as all the qualifying conditions are satisfied and the person is not disqualified from receipt of the Allowance e.g. ceases to provide full-time care and attention, fails to satisfy a means test, or leaves the State.
If the Carer or person being cared for temporarily goes into a hospital or other institution. Carer’s Allowance can continue to be paid for up to 13 weeks.
In such cases a Carer may continue to be regarded as providing full-time care and attention while s/he or the person being cared for is undergoing medical treatment in a hospital or other institution for a period not longer than 13 weeks in a year.
If the person being cared for goes into permanent residential care, Carer's Allowance can continue to be paid for up to 12 weeks.
If the person being cared for dies, Carer's Allowance continues to be payable for 12 weeks afterwards.
For information on the details of the circumstances in which payments after death are made, see above along with separate guidelines.
If you lose your Public Services Card or a cheque, you should notify the Department immediately.
Steps will then be taken to cancel the existing card/cheque and to issue replacements.
If the cheque has already been cashed an investigation will take place before a replacement is issued.
See separate operational guideline on "Payment Methods" in 'Operational Guidelines: Payment-related issues' for more detail regarding action to be taken when a Social Welfare swipe card (E.I.T.) or a cheque from the department, is lost or stolen. The department, the Gardaí and the Post office of payment should be notified immediately of any such loss or theft.
If you are unable to collect your payment at a post office, another person may be nominated to collect it.
For more information on the appointment of agents, see Appoint someone to act on your behalf and Operational Guidelines: Payment-related issues
You can apply to change your payment method at any time.
The department should be notified as soon as possible in writing. See separate guideline on "Payment Methods" in 'Operational Guidelines: Payment-related issues' for more detail.
Carer's Allowance is not payable outside of the State. A Carer should notify the department if leaving the State and payment of the allowance will be stopped.
Payment may be made in certain circumstances for periods during which a Carer is temporarily outside of the State. Carer's Allowance may be paid for up to 3 weeks if the recipient is abroad.
Carer's Allowance can be paid while the Carer is outside the State, provided that it is for the specific purpose of accompanying the cared for person while they are getting treatment in an institution of a temporary nature for a disability that commenced before they left the State. A maximum of 13 weeks can be paid. Permission must be sought before the Carer or cared for person leaves the State. Failure to do so will result in the loss of entitlement.
Social Welfare legislation puts an onus on the Carer to notify the department of any changes in circumstances - see below.
Any increase in means/income of the Carer or spouse/civil partner/cohabitant must be notified to the department immediately.
When Carer's Allowance is awarded, the Carer is issued with a list of circumstances and events which may affect entitlement to the allowance.
The following are some circumstances and events which may affect a persons entitlement to a Carer's Allowance:
- change in means
- change of address of Carer or person being cared for
- change of Post Office
- death of person(s) being cared for
- death of the Carer
- the Carer or the person being cared for leaves the State
- person being cared for goes into hospital or institutional care
- Carer goes into hospital or institutional care
- Carer no longer providing full-time care and attention
- Carer returns to work/education/increases hours of employment/self-employment
- Carer's spouse/civil partner/cohabitant returns to work
- death of a Qualified Child
- a Qualified Child no longer living with or being maintained by the Carer
- a Qualified Child who reaches 18 years (or 22 years if in full-time education)
- Domiciliary Care Allowance no longer in payment in respect of a child under 16 years of age.
- imprisonment or detention of the Carer, the person being cared for or a dependent child
- change in marital status
- claimants in receipt of Half Rate Carers Allowance payment and another Social Welfare payment must ensure that all changes in household or the circumstances of the person being cared for should be notified to both scheme areas
Failure to notify the department of any of the above events may result in an overpayment of the Carer's Allowance which may be recoverable from the Carer by way of lump sum repayment or weekly deductions. It may equally result in an underpayment of the Carer's Allowance e.g. where means have reduced. Effective date of payment of any underpayment of allowance would normally be decided by reference to legislative and other provisions in relation to late claims - see at Part 2 above.
Rannóg Liúntais Chúramóra
Seoladh:
An Oifig Seirbhísí Leasa Shóisialaigh, Tithe an Rialtais, Bóthar Bhéal Átha na Lao, An Longfort, Contae An Longfort, N39 E4E0.
Ríomhphost:
Uimhir theileafóin:
See separate operational guideline on 'Overpayment Recovery' .
A review is initiated when the Carer notifies the department of any changes in his/her circumstances or in the circumstances of the person(s) being cared for. The review is carried out by direct correspondence with the Carer.
Periodic reviews are also initiated by the department to confirm that qualifying conditions for Carer’s Allowance continue to be fulfilled and the Carer's Allowance is correctly in payment.
A review of a Carer’s claim can result in the suspension or termination of payment where initial enquiries with the Carer, including written communication, fail to establish the facts as required or where following a review of the qualifying conditions for payment of Carer's Allowance a Deciding Officer deems that the qualifying conditions are no longer satisfied. The Carer will be advised in writing of a decision to suspend/stop payment in advance.
There will be a right of review and/or appeal against this decision, as referred to already in this guideline. If an overpayment of Carer's Allowance has occurred it may be recoverable by the department.
See separate guideline on 'Overpayment Recovery' .
See also separate operational guidelines on 'Decision-Making' and 'Revised Decisions' in relation to principles of Natural Justice and Revised Decisions.
Carer’s Allowance is a taxable source of income and should be advised to your local tax office. It is up to each individual receiving Carer’s Allowance to notify the Office of the Revenue Commissioners that they have been awarded the payment.
Credited contributions (credits) are social insurance contributions designed to protect the social insurance entitlement record of insured workers who are not in a position to make PRSI contributions. In order to qualify for credits, a person must first have entered insurable employment. They must have paid at least one PRSI contribution at Class A, B, C, D, E, H or P.
Normally, if at any stage in their working life, a person has no PRSI paid or credited contributions for two full tax years, they cannot be awarded credits again until they return to work and pay PRSI contributions for at least 26 weeks. Therefore, for a Carer to qualify for credits, there must not have been a break of over two years since they last had a paid or credited contribution and the commencement of their entitlement to Carer’s Allowance.
Contributions paid at Classes J, K, M or S cannot be used to satisfy this condition. However, appropriate social insurance contributions paid in another EU country may count for the purpose of bridging this gap in contributions.
Periods spent as a homemaker prior to claiming Carer’s Allowance can also be used to bridge a two-year gap in a record for the award of Carer’s Allowance credits and subsequent unemployment/illness credits.
If the break is less than two years, a Carer should be entitled to a credit for each week that they are entitled to Carer’s Allowance.
The value of a credit is generally the value of the last paid contribution.
When a Carer’s Allowance claim ends, a notice of award of credits is issued by Carer’s section to the Departments Records Section if appropriate.
See also separate operational guideline on 'PRSI-Credited Social Insurance Contributions' for further details.
New flexible pension arrangements for people applying for State Pension (Contributory), will be introduced from January 2024. These are for people who turn 66 on or after 1 January 2024.
If you are aged 66 in 2024 or later, you will have the choice to claim your State Pension (Contributory) on any date between the age of 66 and 70.
If you decide to postpone the drawdown of your pension, you will continue to receive Carer’s Allowance. At whatever date your pension is put into payment, your rate of Carer’s Allowance will be reduced to half rate for as long as you continue to satisfy the qualifying scheme conditions.
See separate guidelines A more flexible Contributory State Pension
From January 2024, Long-Term Carers Contribution Periods make it easier for a carer to qualify for the State Pension (Contributory) when they reach pension age. Any period in which you are registered as providing care to an incapacitated person can be included in your pay-related social insurance (PRSI) record.
It is important to note that Long-Term Carers Contributions can only be used for State Pension (Contributory) once you have reached a minimum of 1040 weeks (20 years).
See separate guidelines Long-Term Carers Contribution Periods
This scheme is of benefit to people who are providing full time care and attention to:
- a child under 12 or
- a person who is so incapacitated as to require full-time care and attention
Person's in receipt of Carer’s Allowance who do not qualify for credited contributions may benefit from the Homemaker’s Scheme. The years spent caring may be disregarded (for the purpose of the yearly average contribution test) when calculating entitlement to State Pension (contributory) at age 66.
Person's who apply for Carer's Allowance and satisfy the qualifying conditions as to full-time care and attention and residence but who have their claim disallowed because their means are in excess of allowable limits, may also be covered by the Homemakers Scheme.
See separate operational guideline on 'Homemaker’s Scheme' for full details.
This scheme allows a person to return to work and retain some of his/her Carer's Allowance payment.
If a person has been in receipt of Carer's Allowance for at least 12 months and returns to work immediately after caring ceases, s/he is eligible to transfer onto the Back To Work Allowance scheme. A person should apply for this allowance immediately on commencing employment.
See separate operational guidelines on 'Back To Work' for more details.
The Back to Education Allowance scheme (BTEA) is an educational opportunities scheme for persons in receipt of certain social welfare payments wishing to pursue second or third level courses of education subject to meeting the qualifying conditions.
Income support is available under BTEA to enable two study options to be pursued. The Second Level Option (SLO) enables study to be undertaken provided it leads to a Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) up to level 6. The Third Level Option (TLO) enables study to be undertaken to QQI qualification level 8 and in limited circumstances to include post-graduate study. BTEA requires that all modules of a full-time course must be completed within the same academic year.
If you are receiving Carer’s Allowance and decide to return to fulltime education, you may be eligible to apply for Back to Education Allowance. This scheme allows a person to enter fulltime education and receive a payment at the same rate as s/he was receiving on Carer’s Allowance.
See separate operational guidelines on 'Back to Education Allowance' for more detail.
Documents in respect of Carer’s Allowance are retained and are not destroyed until six years after termination of claim. A random sample of 10% of files due to be destroyed are retained for archival purposes in accordance with the National Archives Act.