What is it?
If you are caring for a relative on a full-time basis it can be very demanding. It can also be difficult to get any time for yourself. You may feel that you are always either giving care, or have to be on-call should your help be needed. You may look on with envy as your friends take days off work and a few weeks for a holiday.
The Respite Care Grant is a payment made by the Irish Department of Social Protection, which is given to qualifying people who are caring for a relative on a full-time basis. It may be used for whatever purpose the carer wishes including paying for respite care, enabling the carer to take some time off. It is valued at €1,375 and is paid once per year, in June. If the carer is caring for more than one person, the grant is paid for each one of them.
Who can claim it?
There are several rules which govern who can claim the respite care grant:
- If you are already receiving the Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, the Domiciliary Care Allowance or the Prescribed Relative’s Allowance from the Department of Social Protection, the payment is automatic.
- If not receiving on the of the above mentioned payments, a carer may qualify for the grant provided that the carer is:
- aged 16 years or over,
- ordinarily resident in the State,
- caring for the person on a full-time basis,
- caring for the person for at least six months, including the first Thursday in the month of June when the payment is made,
- either living with the person being cared for, or contactable quickly by a direct means of communication, e.g. telephone or alarm,
- not working more than 15 hours per week outside the home, nor claiming unemployment/jobseeker’s allowance/benefit nor signing on for credits,
- and the person receiving care is not living in a hospital, convalescent home or similar institution.
How to Apply?
If the carer is receiving one of the above-mentioned payments then payment is automatic and it is not necessary to apply directly for this Grant. If the carer received the Respite Care Grant in the previous year, then he/she should have received a letter/from from the Department of Social Protection in April with some questions to check that the carer still qualifies. Otherwise the application form for the Respite Care Grant RCG 1 should be completed and sent in to the Department. If caring for more than one person, then one form per person should be returned.
The RCG 1 form has some sections which must be completed by the Doctor (GP) of the person receiving care. These include a detailed medical report.
For further information see the Respite Care Grant page on the Department of Social Protection website.