Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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1022.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the additional supports or secondary benefits allowed to persons on a carer’s allowance, and to persons on a carer’s benefit.[35828/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Carer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.

Carer's Benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention.

The Government acknowledges the important role that carers play and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. This commitment is recognised in both the Programme for Government and the National Carers Strategy.

Additional supports or secondary benefits allowable to Carers awarded either CA or CARB are as follows:

• The Carer’s Support Grant (CSG) is an annual single payment of €1850 for each care recipient. The grant is paid automatically to those who have an entitlement to CA, CARB and Domiciliary Care Allowance on the first Thursday in June. Full-time carers that are not in receipt of a social welfare payment can also apply for a standalone CSG.
• A person receiving CA will receive a free travel pass in his/her own right.
• An extra weekly allowance is paid to Carers on CA who may be over the age of 66 and a further increase if over 80. An increase is payable to those aged over 66 and are ordinarily resident on one of a list of specified islands off the coast of Ireland.
• In certain circumstances, a carer aged 66 or over may qualify for the Household Benefits Package.
• Payment of CA may continue for 12 weeks after the death of the person being cared for and 6 weeks for CARB.
• Payment of CA and CARB will be paid for 6 weeks after the death of the carer to the carer’s spouse/partner providing they are in receipt of a social welfare payment in their own right.
• A person in receipt of CA or CARB can be registered for GP Visit Card eligibility which is available from the Health Service Executive.
• From January 2024, access to the State Pension (Contributory) improved for long-term carers. If a customer has spent more than 20 years (1,040 weeks) providing full-time care to an incapacitated person, they may be entitled to enhanced state pension provision.