'I have seen her age significantly': Dáil hears of strain on Leitrim carer

On Wednesday, September 25, Dáil Éireann held a debate on the Carer’s Allowance Means Test. 

The personal toll of caring for a loved one was brought to the attention of the Dáil by a Sligo-Leitrim TD. 

Carer’s Allowance is a means-tested payment, meaning eligibility depends on the applicant's income being below a certain threshold, assessed by the Department of Social Protection. 

For those caring for two or more people, the allowance is increased by 50 percent. However, if a person is receiving another social welfare payment, they may only qualify for the half-rate Carer’s Allowance.

Many TD’s and councillors have been calling for an abolition of the means test for Carer’s Allowance, arguing it is unfair and undermines the vital work of Ireland’s carers.

More than 500,000 people in Ireland, or one in eight of the population are carers.

Sligo-Leitrim TD Martin Kenny brought a local case to the attention of the Dáil, and called for these carers in the North West to receive fair payment.

“Most of the people doing the care are female and are caring for the people they love. They are caring for a sibling, or an elderly parent or child,” Deputy Kenny said.

“In many of those cases, they would do it even if money were taken off them, never mind if they got money. That needs to be recognised.”

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Deputy Kenny discussed a local case involving a woman who has been caring for her child for 25 years, but is unable to access full Carer’s Allowance because income coming into the house from her husband’s work exceeds the eligibility threshold.

“It causes such stress and hardship on that woman. I have seen her age significantly over the past decade because the child she cares for is deteriorating continuously,” Deputy Kenny explained.

“It is the worry about all of that which is putting such a plight on her.

“The notion of carer's allowance and carer's benefit, and the amount of money put into those, is simply not adequate to reflect that support. We need to ensure that happens.

“The Minister of State needs to listen to what is happening here. We need to ensure that we provide for people into the future. The budget coming up in the next couple of days needs to deliver,” Deputy Kenny concluded.

In Family Carers Ireland’s pre-budget submission for 2025, the charity called to raise the weekly Carer’s Allowance income disregard to €1,250 for couples and €625 for single carers. Additionally, they have also advocated for the abolition of the means test and the introduction of a Family Carer Payment by 2027.

As the upcoming Budget approaches on Tuesday, October 1, it is imperative for carers that the Government takes decisive action to ensure that support provided is fair and sufficient for more than half a million carers nationwide.

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