Improvements to supports for Mayo carers

A Mayo TD has confirmed that a series of improvements to the government’s supports for carers will take effect from today.

Deputy Alan Dillon stated: “My colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, is introducing changes to the means test for carers, the first such change in 14 years.

"This means that many more people in Mayo will now be eligible for the Carer’s Allowance.

“The capital disregard for carers will increase from €20,000 to €50,000.

"Furthermore, the weekly income disregard for Carer’s Allowance will increase to €350 per week for single carers and to €750 per week for a couple.

“Separately, 3,745 carers in Mayo will be paid the annual Carer’s Support Grant from tomorrow.

"The annual grant of €1,850 was increased by Minister Humphreys in her first budget as Minister for Social Protection, in recognition of the vital role of carers and the contribution they make to society.

“It is available to all carers providing full-time care to an older person or a person with a disability, regardless of their means or social insurance contributions.

“It will be paid automatically to those who are receiving the Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit and those on Domiciliary Care Allowance schemes.

“Back in May I called on the Taoiseach and Minister Humphreys to overhaul the means test for carers allowances as the assessment of needs for carers is applied to gross rather than net income and does not consider mortgage repayments, dependent children, college fees, nursing home support scheme contributions and medical costs, it does not reflect the reality faced by many caring families.

"Families may appear relatively financially comfortable based on their gross income but struggle to make ends meet when living expenses and costs of care are deducted.

“Carers make a hugely valuable contribution to local communities across Mayo and I will continue to seek reform in the mean test to ensure they are supported in recognition of the vital role carers play.”