Kilkenny TD hopeful for increase in carer payments
Means testing for carers is currently under review by the government
Fianna Fail TD for Carlow-Kilkenny Peter "Chap" Cleere has been informed that the outcome of a review on means testing for carers in Ireland is expected in the coming weeks.
Deputy Cleere hopes that the review will result in a phasing-out of means testing for carers, which in turn will lead to an increase in their payments. The newly-elected TD has been campaigning for the changes since before he was elected to Dail Eireann.
Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary informed Deputy Cleere that an inter-departmental working group with the Department of Health and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth was established last year to examine and review the system of means testing for carer payments. The group is chaired by the Department of Social Protection.
As part of Budget 2025, the weekly income disregard will increase from €450 to €625 for a single person, and from €900 to €1,250 for carers with a spouse/partner.
Deputy Cleere has said he is glad to see movement on the issue of the means test for carers, and he looks forward to hearing the findings that come from the working group.
“Fianna Fail has outlined in the Programme for Government a timeline which commits to significantly increasing the income disregards for Carer’s Allowance in each budget with a view to phasing out the means test during the lifetime of the Government.
“I know this is a very topical issue for many of my constituents. I look forward to hearing the findings that the working group come to as they assess the means testing. Hopefully, means testing will be phased out sooner rather than later,” concluded Deputy Cleere.