People will automatically qualify for the Carer’s Support Grant if they receive Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit or Domiciliary Care Allowance
More than 5,000 Kildare carers are due to receive an annual grant of €1,850.
The Department of Social Protection announced on Thursday details of the Carer’s Support Grant.
Some 125,000 carers and their families will receive the grant of €1,850.
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.
The Carer’s Support Grant is paid automatically to all recipients of Carer’s Allowance (whether full rate or half rate), Carer’s Benefit, or Domiciliary Care Allowance.
It is also available to other full-time carers who are not receiving any of these payments.
If you are not getting any of these payments, you may still qualify if you meet these conditions if:
you are 16 or over
you ordinarily reside in the Irish State
you care for the person full time
you have been caring for the person for a continuous period of at least six months, and this period includes the first Thursday in June
you live with the person you are caring for or you are contactable quickly by a direct system of communication such as a telephone or an alarm
You do not qualify for Carer's Support Grant if you are:
working, self-employed, or on a training or education course for more than 18.5 hours a week. (Note: you must show us that the person you are caring for has adequate care while you are working, on an education course, or both)
living in a hospital, convalescent home or similar institution
If you are caring for more than one person, you will get a grant for each person cared for.
The Carer’s Support Grant is exempt from income tax, PRSI and USC.
The overall cost of the grant being paid is expected to be in the region of €260 million.
Local Fianna Fáil Senator Fiona O'Loughlin has confirmed said: “I’m delighted that 5,092 carers in Kildare will receive the annual Carer’s Support Grant of €1,850 this week.
“Carers play a vital role in our communities giving valuable help and assistance to people when they need it most. This payment is in recognition of all the amazing work that carers in our locality do on a daily basis and the costs that it entails.
“The grant will be automatically paid to those who already receive the Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit or Domiciliary Care Allowance."
"The payment is made in respect of each person being cared for to take account of the additional cost of providing care and to recognise the particular challenges faced by these carers.
"Of the 125,000 carers nationwide almost 14,000 are providing care for two or more people and will receive a grant in respect of each person they are caring for.
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