A commitment to abolish the means test for the Carer’s Allowance, given in the run up to last year’s general election, has been reduced to a Government aim, according to the Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary.
The changing of the guard in Leinster House saw a Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael coalition returned by the electorate, yet the Government’s commitment to reforming the system for carers, of whom over 99,000 receive the benefit, has yet to materialise.
This is National Carer’s Week and Family Carers Ireland is calling for the Government to deliver on its pledge to remove means testing for those entitled to the Carer’s Allowance.
However, speaking in the Dáil in recent weeks, Minister Calleary said that the commitment to phasing out the Carer’s Allowance means test, during the lifetime of the current Government has now become an ‘aim’.
Minister Calleary said over 99,000 carers were in receipt of the allowance, at a cost of over €1.25bn to the exchequer, in 2025. He was responding to questions by Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman TD and Paul Murphy, TD People Before Profit Solidarity, who both sought a timeline for the abolition, which is included in the Programme for Government.
Family Carers Ireland research has shown a cost-saving of €20bn to the State each year as a result of the work family carers do in caring for their loved ones at home
“The Programme for Government commits to continue to significantly increase the income disregards for Carer’s Allowance in each budget, during the lifetime of the Government, with an aim to ultimately phase out the means test during the lifetime of the Government,” he replied.
Family Carers Ireland research has shown a cost-saving of €20bn to the State each year as a result of the work family carers do in caring for their loved ones at home.
Louise Mac an tSaoi is a full-time, sole carer for her teenage son Liam, who has severe physical and intellectual disabilities. The family live in Clonberne, in east Galway along with Liam’s two adult brothers.
Louise says the means test is restricting carers from living full lives and that the Government could do a lot more to support families like hers.
“Liam is 14, non-verbal, autistic and peg fed. He is completely dependent on me as his carer and has been since he was born prematurely at 23 weeks,” she explains.
“My husband Sean passed away four years ago which meant my Carer’s Allowance was halved as I went on to the Lone Parents Allowance, both of which were means tested.
“Liam is in a wheelchair as he had one of his legs amputated when he was younger and we need an adapted car to bring him to his various appointments and school and respite. We have had to rely on a fundraising effort by family, friends and the community because I couldn’t get a loan because my income is so low.
“I know there’s a concern about people abusing a system that doesn’t have means testing, but genuine people like me shouldn’t have to jump through hoops for a bit of financial security when we are saving the country so much by caring for our children at home.”
Louise Mac an tSaoi with her son Liam, Clonberne, Co Galway.
Louise had worked as a national school secretary before Liam was born and said she would love to be able to work again but it isn’t possible as her son needs her care 24/7.
“We were promised an end to the means test when the politicians came looking for votes last year, but they’ve gone very silent since,” she adds.
Complete overhaul
“They’re nothing but empty promises and the proof of that is how long it is since they got into office and still no sign of them abolishing it.
“There is no security or peace of mind when it comes to being a carer. That constant worry never leaves you, but if I had a guaranteed income, that would be one thing less to worry about.
“Parents of special needs children who have to give up work to care for their children should be given a proper wage. We’re saving the State a fortune and we also should have access to transport, especially those of us who live in rural Ireland and who cannot manage without a car,” says Louise.
Minister Calleary told his Dáil colleagues that from July, the weekly income disregard (the maximum amount a person can earn to qualify for the payment) will increase from €450 to €625 for a single person, and from €900 to €1,250 for carers with a spouse or partner.
However, despite campaigning for increases in recent years, Family Carers Ireland is now lobbying for a complete overhaul of the carer’s allowance system.
Catherine Cox, Family Carers Ireland.
“Family carers are saving the State in the region of €20bn each year but, more importantly they are propping up our health system, by keeping people out of hospital and preventing re-admissions,” says Catherine Cox, head of communications and policy with Family Carers Ireland.
“Without family carers, the already-struggling health service would be an even bigger mess and it is time the work they do is recognised, both in terms of its value and in the financial payments they deserve.”
Participation income
Catherine explains that the charity has continued to call for increases to income disregards until the means testing is phased out, and she insists this needs to happen within the lifetime of the current Government.
“We realise the changes cannot happen overnight but there cannot be any watering down of the commitment given pre-election that means testing would be abolished. This was a commitment every single political party gave ahead of the general election and it cannot now become an ‘aim’ of Government. We will push and drive this forward because the current system is not working.”
Government figures estimate the cost of removing the means test for carer’s allowance would cost the exchequer in the region of €2bn each year – a figure which is disputed by Family Carers Ireland.
“Our figures are closer to €400m and that would involve carers receiving a Participation Income, related to the hours and work they do, which would recognise the value of that work,” adds Catherine.
“The current system is based on means instead of needs and the maximum payment of €260 isn’t an adequate payment. When the Government could introduce a weekly rate of €350 for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and has given artists a basic income payment of €325 per week, there is no reason why a Participation Income can’t be realised for carers.”
Catherine says that the increases to income disregards are welcome but still mask the reality of a system that is not fit for purpose.
“Income disregards bear no resemblance to the actual disposable income of a caring household,” she adds.
“Because the assessment is applied to gross rather than net income and does not consider mortgage repayments, dependent children, college fees, Fair Deal contributions, medical costs, etc, it does not reflect the reality faced by families who are struggling to make ends meet.”
In short
The Carer’s Allowance was introduced in 1990 as an income support for people ‘living with and caring for a relevant pensioner’. Approximately half of all recipients of Carer’s Allowance receive a reduced rate due to means. Thousands more full-time family carers are excluded due to means.Lidl Ireland is selling Heart of Gold pins in stores nationwide during June, with 100% of proceeds going to Family Carers Ireland.Further information on carer supports is available on familycarers.ie.
A commitment to abolish the means test for the Carer’s Allowance, given in the run up to last year’s general election, has been reduced to a Government aim, according to the Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary.
The changing of the guard in Leinster House saw a Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael coalition returned by the electorate, yet the Government’s commitment to reforming the system for carers, of whom over 99,000 receive the benefit, has yet to materialise.
This is National Carer’s Week and Family Carers Ireland is calling for the Government to deliver on its pledge to remove means testing for those entitled to the Carer’s Allowance.
However, speaking in the Dáil in recent weeks, Minister Calleary said that the commitment to phasing out the Carer’s Allowance means test, during the lifetime of the current Government has now become an ‘aim’.
Minister Calleary said over 99,000 carers were in receipt of the allowance, at a cost of over €1.25bn to the exchequer, in 2025. He was responding to questions by Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman TD and Paul Murphy, TD People Before Profit Solidarity, who both sought a timeline for the abolition, which is included in the Programme for Government.
Family Carers Ireland research has shown a cost-saving of €20bn to the State each year as a result of the work family carers do in caring for their loved ones at home
“The Programme for Government commits to continue to significantly increase the income disregards for Carer’s Allowance in each budget, during the lifetime of the Government, with an aim to ultimately phase out the means test during the lifetime of the Government,” he replied.
Family Carers Ireland research has shown a cost-saving of €20bn to the State each year as a result of the work family carers do in caring for their loved ones at home.
Louise Mac an tSaoi is a full-time, sole carer for her teenage son Liam, who has severe physical and intellectual disabilities. The family live in Clonberne, in east Galway along with Liam’s two adult brothers.
Louise says the means test is restricting carers from living full lives and that the Government could do a lot more to support families like hers.
“Liam is 14, non-verbal, autistic and peg fed. He is completely dependent on me as his carer and has been since he was born prematurely at 23 weeks,” she explains.
“My husband Sean passed away four years ago which meant my Carer’s Allowance was halved as I went on to the Lone Parents Allowance, both of which were means tested.
“Liam is in a wheelchair as he had one of his legs amputated when he was younger and we need an adapted car to bring him to his various appointments and school and respite. We have had to rely on a fundraising effort by family, friends and the community because I couldn’t get a loan because my income is so low.
“I know there’s a concern about people abusing a system that doesn’t have means testing, but genuine people like me shouldn’t have to jump through hoops for a bit of financial security when we are saving the country so much by caring for our children at home.”
Louise Mac an tSaoi with her son Liam, Clonberne, Co Galway.
Louise had worked as a national school secretary before Liam was born and said she would love to be able to work again but it isn’t possible as her son needs her care 24/7.
“We were promised an end to the means test when the politicians came looking for votes last year, but they’ve gone very silent since,” she adds.
Complete overhaul
“They’re nothing but empty promises and the proof of that is how long it is since they got into office and still no sign of them abolishing it.
“There is no security or peace of mind when it comes to being a carer. That constant worry never leaves you, but if I had a guaranteed income, that would be one thing less to worry about.
“Parents of special needs children who have to give up work to care for their children should be given a proper wage. We’re saving the State a fortune and we also should have access to transport, especially those of us who live in rural Ireland and who cannot manage without a car,” says Louise.
Minister Calleary told his Dáil colleagues that from July, the weekly income disregard (the maximum amount a person can earn to qualify for the payment) will increase from €450 to €625 for a single person, and from €900 to €1,250 for carers with a spouse or partner.
However, despite campaigning for increases in recent years, Family Carers Ireland is now lobbying for a complete overhaul of the carer’s allowance system.
Catherine Cox, Family Carers Ireland.
“Family carers are saving the State in the region of €20bn each year but, more importantly they are propping up our health system, by keeping people out of hospital and preventing re-admissions,” says Catherine Cox, head of communications and policy with Family Carers Ireland.
“Without family carers, the already-struggling health service would be an even bigger mess and it is time the work they do is recognised, both in terms of its value and in the financial payments they deserve.”
Participation income
Catherine explains that the charity has continued to call for increases to income disregards until the means testing is phased out, and she insists this needs to happen within the lifetime of the current Government.
“We realise the changes cannot happen overnight but there cannot be any watering down of the commitment given pre-election that means testing would be abolished. This was a commitment every single political party gave ahead of the general election and it cannot now become an ‘aim’ of Government. We will push and drive this forward because the current system is not working.”
Government figures estimate the cost of removing the means test for carer’s allowance would cost the exchequer in the region of €2bn each year – a figure which is disputed by Family Carers Ireland.
“Our figures are closer to €400m and that would involve carers receiving a Participation Income, related to the hours and work they do, which would recognise the value of that work,” adds Catherine.
“The current system is based on means instead of needs and the maximum payment of €260 isn’t an adequate payment. When the Government could introduce a weekly rate of €350 for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and has given artists a basic income payment of €325 per week, there is no reason why a Participation Income can’t be realised for carers.”
Catherine says that the increases to income disregards are welcome but still mask the reality of a system that is not fit for purpose.
“Income disregards bear no resemblance to the actual disposable income of a caring household,” she adds.
“Because the assessment is applied to gross rather than net income and does not consider mortgage repayments, dependent children, college fees, Fair Deal contributions, medical costs, etc, it does not reflect the reality faced by families who are struggling to make ends meet.”
In short
The Carer’s Allowance was introduced in 1990 as an income support for people ‘living with and caring for a relevant pensioner’. Approximately half of all recipients of Carer’s Allowance receive a reduced rate due to means. Thousands more full-time family carers are excluded due to means.Lidl Ireland is selling Heart of Gold pins in stores nationwide during June, with 100% of proceeds going to Family Carers Ireland.Further information on carer supports is available on familycarers.ie. 
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