What is it?
This is a short-term payment, for up to 24 months, for carers who give up their employment to give full-time care to someone who needs it. The value is €205 per week, if caring for one person, or €307.50 per week if caring for two people.
Who can claim it?
There are several rules which govern who can claim the Carer’s Benefit. The carer must:
- be aged 16 years or over and under 66,
- have been in employment for at least 8 weeks in the previous 26 weeks before becoming a carer, working a minimum of 16 hours per week or 32 hours per two week period,
- be ordinarily resident in the State,
- give up employment to care the person on a full-time basis,
- be either living with the person being cared for, or contactable quickly by a direct means of communication, e.g. telephone or alarm,
- not be living in a hospital, convalescent home or similar institution, however the carer or the person being cared for may be hospitalised for a period no longer than 13 weeks,
- meet the PRSI contribution conditions (see below)
- not be engaged in employment, self-employment, training or education courses outside the home for more than 15 hours per week, and must not earn more than €332.50 per week (after deducting tax, USC, PRSI, superannuation/pension, pension levy, union dues and any subscriptions to Friendly Societies),
The person receiving care must be medically assessed, and determined to be incapacitated to such a degree as to require full-time care and not normally living in a hospital, convalescent/nursing home, or similar institution. If the person being cared for is a child in recipt of the Domiciliary Care Allowance, then a further medical assessment for the Carer’s Benefit is not required.
PRSI Contribution Requirements
The carer must have at least 156 contributions paid at any time between the commencement of making PRSI contributions and the time of claiming for the Carer’s Benefit, and:
- at least 39 contributions have been paid in the Relevant Tax Year (see below) or
- at least 39 contributions have been paid in the 12 month period prior to the start of the Carer’s Benefit or
- at least 26 contributions have been paid in the Relevant Tax Year and at least 26 in the prior year.
The Relevant Tax Year is defined to be the second last complete tax year before the year in which the Carer’s Benefit is claimed. For example, if claiming in 2014, the Relevant Tax Year is 2012.
Note: The PRSI contributions do not have to be in Class A, however, Class S (self-employed) do not count.
How to Apply?
To apply for the Carer’s Benefit, the carer should complete the application form CARB 1 and send it to the Department. If caring for more than one person, then one form per person should be returned.
The CARB 1 has some sections which must be completed by the carer’s current or most recent employer. It also has parts which must be completed by the Doctor (GP) of the person receiving care unless the person is a child in receipt of the Domiciliary Care Allowance. These sections include a detailed medical report.
For further information see the Carer’s Benefit page on the Department of Social Protection website.