Income and Supports

Carers Allowance

The Carers Allowance is a weekly payment to a person on low income who is looking after a person or child who needs fulltime care and attention because of age, disability or illness including mental illness.

Applying for Carer’s Allowance

• The Carer

  The Carers Allowance is a weekly payment to a person on low income who is looking after a person who needs fulltime care and attention because of age, disability or illness including mental illness.

  The carer must be living with or in a position to provide fulltime care and attention to the person in need of care.

  The carer must be at least 18 and normally resident in the state.

  The Carers Allowance is means tested and is subject to the working hours of the carer. The carer cannot work (employed, self-employed or voluntary) or take part in a training or education course for more than 18.5 hours per week.

  A half payment option is available where the carer is providing care on a part time basis, to a person who attends a residential service on a part time basis or where 2 carers are, by arrangement, providing care to one person. Where a carer cares for 2 people, the carer may receive a half payment for the second person.

  The Carer’s Support Grant is automatically paid to people getting Carer’s Allowance, in June of each year.

• The Person Being Cared for

  The person being cared for must be
  Over the age of 16 and so incapacitated as to require fulltime care and attention,
  Or
  Under 16 years of age and getting a Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA). Please note you can apply for Carer Allowance at the same time as applying for DCA.

• Requiring fulltime care and attention

  Requiring fulltime care and attention means he or she is so incapacitated as to need continuous supervision to avoid danger to him or her or constant supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions. The condition must be likely to last for at least 1 year.

  Qualification for the Carers Allowance Scheme is based on a medical assessment of the person needing care. With permission from the person needing care, their G.P (General Practitioner). completes the Medical Report (Part 10 Section 3 of the Carers Allowance application form.)

  Note: if you are caring for a child who qualifies for Domiciliary Care Allowance you do not need to fill in the medical report when you apply for Carer’s Allowance. The medical report part of the form will need to be completed to continue payments after the child’s 16th birthday, when payment of Domiciliary Care Allowance ceases.

• Include Extra Information

  You may feel that the medical report section does not completely describe the ability/disability profile of the person needing care, particularly where care is required mostly for continuous supervision rather than assistance purposes.

  For this reason, it can be useful to include extra information to demonstrate the need for fulltime care and attention.

  Extra information can include reports from community health doctors, therapists or consultants, any assessment reports, a family impact statement, an Individual Education Plan (IEP), a letter from the child’s teacher or SNA or child-minder, or a day service key worker.

  A daily care diary can be a useful way to record and demonstrate care and attention needs. Use the diary to record all care needs over a few days and include it with your application.

• The Carers Allowance Application Form

  The application form (CR1) and assistance completing the form is available on request from the Department of Social Protection or local Citizens Information Centre, or online.

  It may be useful to read the form and the checklist of additional information needed (part 9 of form) before starting to complete the application. Then allow time to complete each section and gather the additional information to be included with your application form. Keep a copy of the completed application form for your own records.

• Refusal and Appeals – Carer’s Allowance

  If your application is refused, you will be notified of your right to appeal.

  In 2022, an average of 52% of the appeals decided had a favourable outcome for the person making the appeal. This means that the appeal was either allowed in full or in part by an Appeals Officer or the appeal was resolved by way of a revised decision by a Deciding Officer or Designated Person, in favour of the person making the appeal.
  In 2022, 41% of appeals decided in relation to Carer’s Allowance had a favourable outcome for the person making the appeal.

  During 2022, the average time taken to process all appeals was 14.9 weeks. For Carer’s Allowance the time taken to process appeals was 12.7 weeks. (Social Welfare Appeals Office Annual Report 2022)

• For information on the appeals process visit

  Social Welfare Appeals Office

  Citizens Information Service – How to appeal a social welfare appeal

  You can get help with making an appeal from your local Citizens Information Service.

• Further Information

  Department of Social Protection – Carer’s Allowance

  Citizens Information Services – Carer’s Allowance

Carers Benefit

The Carers Benefit is a payment to an insured person who has recently left the workplace to look after a person or child who needs fulltime care and attention because of age, disability or illness including mental illness.

Applying for Carer’s Benefit

• The Carer

  The Carer’s Benefit is a payment to an insured person who leaves work or reduces their working hours, to look after a person who needs fulltime care and attention because of age, disability or illness including mental illness.

  The carer must be living with or in a position to provide fulltime care and attention to the adult or child in need of care.

  The carer must be at least 16 and normally resident in the state.

  The Carer’s Benefit is subject to PRSI criteria. The carer cannot work (employed, self-employed or voluntary) or take part in a training or education course for more than 18.5 hours per week and net earnings must not exceed €350 per week.

  Carer’s benefit is paid for a total of 2 years for each person being cared for. The carer’s job is held open during this time. A Carer may continue in their job for the 18.5 hours per week (with employer’s consent).

  The Carer’s Support Grant is automatically paid to people getting Carer’s Benefit, in June of each year.

• The Person Being Cared for

  The person being cared for must be

  Over the age of 16 and so incapacitated as to require fulltime care and attention,

  Or

  Under 16 years of age and getting a Domiciliary Care Allowance.

• Requiring fulltime care and attention

  Requiring fulltime care and attention means he or she is so incapacitated as to need continuous supervision to avoid danger to him or her or constant supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in concern with normal bodily functions.

  Qualification for the Carer’s Benefit Scheme is based on a medical assessment form for the person needing care. With permission from the person needing care, their G.P (General Practitioner). completes the Medical Report. (Part 10 Section B of your Carers Benefit application form).

  Note: if you are caring for a child who qualifies for Domiciliary Care Allowance you do not need to fill in the medical section when you apply for Carer’s Benefit. The medical report part of the form will need to be completed to continue carers benefit payments after the child’s 16th birthday, when payment of Domiciliary Care Allowance ceases.

• Include Extra Information

  The medical report is short, and you may feel it does not completely describe the ability/disability profile of the person needing care. This is particularly true where care is required for continuous supervision rather than assistance purposes. For this reason, it is useful to include extra information to demonstrate the need for fulltime care and attention.

  Extra information can include reports from community health doctors, therapists or consultants, an Assessment of Need report, a family impact statement, an Individual Education Plan, a letter from the child’s teacher, or SNA, or child-minder, or day service key worker.

  A daily care diary can be a useful way to record and demonstrate care and attention needs. Begin the diary in the morning and continue right through to nighttime, including any waking during the night. Use the diary to record all care needs over a few days and include it with your application.

• The Carer’s Benefit Application Form

  The application form (CARB 1) and assistance completing the form is available on request from the Department of Social Protection or local Citizens Information Centre, or online.

  The Carer’s Benefit application form is long and detailed. It may be useful to read the form and the checklist of additional information needed (part 9 of form) before starting to complete the application. Then allow time to complete each section and gather the additional information to be included with your application form. Keep a copy of the completed application form for your own records.

• Refusal and Appeals – Carer’s Benefit

  If your application is refused, you will be notified of your right to appeal.

  In 2022, an average of 52% of the appeals decided had a favourable outcome for the person making the appeal. This means that the appeal was either allowed in full or in part by an Appeals Officer or the appeal was resolved by way of a revised decision by a Deciding Officer or Designated Person, in favour of the person making the appeal.

  In 2022, 57% of appeals decided in relation to Carer’s Benefit had a favourable outcome for the person making the appeal.

  During 2022, the average time taken to process all appeals was 14.9 weeks. For Carer’s Benefit the time taken to process appeals was 11.5 weeks. (Social Welfare Appeals Office Annual Report 2022)

• For information on the appeals process visit

  Social Welfare Appeals Office

  Citizens Information Service – How to appeal a social welfare appeal

  You can get help with making an appeal from your local Citizens Information Service.

• Further Information

  Department of Social Protection – Carer’s Benefit

  Citizens Information Services – Carer’s Benefit

Carers Support Grant

The Carer’s Support Grant is an annual payment to a person giving fulltime care and attention to a person who needs such care.

Applying for the Carer’s Support Grant

• The Carer

  The Carer’s Support Grant is an annual payment to a person giving fulltime care and attention to a person who needs such care.

  The carer must be living with or in a position to provide fulltime care and attention to the person in need of care.

  The carer must be at least 16 and normally resident in the state.

  The carer must be caring for the person for at least 6 months, up to and including the 1st Thursday in June, the payment day of the grant.

  The Carer’s Support Grant is not means tested. The Carer’s Support Grant is subject to the working hours of the carer. The carer cannot work as an employee or take part in a training or education course for more than 18.5 hours per week.

• The Person Being Cared for

  The person being cared for must be so incapacitated as to require fulltime care and attention.

  The person being cared for must be normally resident in the state.

  Carers who are in receipt of the Carers Allowance, Carers Benefit or the Domiciliary Care Allowance are paid the Carer’s Support Grant each year automatically. They do not need to make a separate application for the Carer’s Support Grant.

  There is no automatic payment of the respite care grant based on payment of the Disability Allowance. Where a person being cared for qualifies for the Disability Allowance the carer seeking the grant will have to apply separately. You should fill in an application form CSG 1 for each person you are caring for.

  Qualification for the Carer’s Support Grant is based on a medical assessment of the person needing care. With permission from the person needing care, their G.P (General Practitioner). completes the Medical Report (Part 5 Section B of the Carer’s Support Grant application form.)

• Extra Information

  When completing the application form for the Carer’s Support Grant it can be useful to include extra information to show the need for fulltime care and attention.

  Extra information can include reports from community health doctors, therapists or consultants, an Assessment of Need report (AON), the child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP), a letter from the child’s teacher, Special Needs Assistant or child-minder, or a family impact statement.

  A daily care diary can be of use to record and demonstrate care and attention needs. Begin the diary in the morning and continue right through to nighttime, including any waking during the night. Use the diary to record all care needs over a few days and include it with your application.

• The Carer’s Support Grant Application Form

  The application form (CSG1) and assistance completing the form is available on request from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) or local Citizens Information Centre, or online.

  Allow time to read the application form carefully, complete each section and gather the additional information you may want to include with your application form.

  It can be useful for your own records to keep a copy of the completed application form.

• Refusal and Appeals – Carer’s Support Grant

  If your application is refused, you will be notified of your right to appeal.

  In 2022, an average of 52% of the appeals decided had a favourable outcome for the person making the appeal. This means that the appeal was either allowed in full or in part by an Appeals Officer or the appeal was resolved by way of a revised decision by a Deciding Officer or Designated Person, in favour of the person making the appeal.
  In 2022, 40% of appeals decided in relation to the Carer’s Support Grant had a favourable outcome for the person making the appeal.

  During 2022, the average time taken to process all appeals was 14.9 weeks. For the Carer’s Support Grant, the time taken to process appeals was 13.9 weeks. (Social Welfare Appeals Office Annual Report 2022)

• For information on the appeals process visit

  Social Welfare Appeals Office

  Citizens Information Service – How to appeal a social welfare appeal

  You can get help with making an appeal from your local Citizens Information Service.

• Further information

  Department of Social Protection – Carer’s Support Grant

  Citizens Information Services – Carer’s Support Grant

Disability allowance

The Disability Allowance is a weekly payment to a person with a specified disability. The person must have an injury, disease, physical or mental disability that has continued or is expected to continue for at least 1 year. As a result, the person is substantially restricted in undertaking work.

Applying for the Disability Allowance

The Disability Allowance is a weekly payment to a person with a specified disability. The person must have an injury, disease, physical or mental disability that has continued or is expected to continue for at least 1 year. As a result, the person is substantially restricted in undertaking work. The person must be aged between 16 and 66 years and normally resident in the state and the Disability Allowance is means tested.

The medical section in the form for disability allowance (part 9 of form) asks you to give information about your medical condition or disability and how it affects the activities of your typical day. Some people find that it does not accurately describe intellectual or cognitive issues. These are difficulties you may have with thinking, learning, understanding, or remembering things.

• Cognitive problems or intellectual disability may affect your ability to carry out the following daily activities¹

  Learning simple or complex tasks

  Starting or completing tasks – difficulties planning, organising, problem solving, prioritising, or switching tasks.

  Coping with small changes to your routine – to the extent that day to day life is made significantly more difficult

  Getting about – getting to a place which is familiar or unfamiliar and with or without support.

  Coping with social engagement – due to difficulty relating to others, causing significant distress

  Making yourself understood – through speaking, writing, typing or other means normally used.

  Awareness of danger – staying safe doing everyday tasks, do you need someone to stay with you to stay safe?

  Can you carry out daily activities safely, to an acceptable standard, as often as you need to and in a reasonable length of time?

  1. Source – UK Dept of Work and Pensions, Capability for work questionnaire – Mental, cognitive, and intellectual capabilities

• Include Extra Information

  If you want to fully describe your difficulties with daily tasks and how this affects your ability to work, it can be useful to include further information on an additional sheet of paper. Extra information such as recent reports, treatment plans, individual education or care plans from your occupational therapist, social worker, specialist nurse, teacher, carer, support worker or personal assistant can also be included with your application.

• Medical Report by your Doctor

  Your own doctor is asked to provide a medical report (part 11 of form). If there are lots of doctors at the surgery, you attend ask the doctor who knows you best or understands your case best. Ask your doctor to enclose copies of any recent reports from specialists and recent medical test results. You can also enclose your current prescription list and a copy of relevant personal medical records such as an epilepsy seizure diary.

• The Disability Allowance Application Form

  The application form (DA1) is available on request from your local Intreo Centre, Department of Social Protection Branch Office or Citizens Information Service office or online at https://www.gov.ie/en/service/df6811-disability-allowance/#apply
  The Disability Allowance application form is long and detailed. Allow time to read the form carefully, complete each section and gather the additional information you may want to include with your application form. If you have had help filling out the form, check the answers, then sign and date the form. It can be useful for your own records to keep a copy of the completed application form.

  If you need any help to complete this form, please contact the Disability Allowance Section on (043) 334 0000, or 0818 927770, or your local Intreo Centre, Social Welfare Office or any Citizens Information Centre. You can find the name and address of your local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Office by visiting www.gov.ie/intreo

• Can I start working and keep my disability allowance?

  Changes introduced in 2017 mean it is now easier for people with disabilities to feel secure to explore work options and maintain key benefits when working. If your main income support is Disability Allowance and you can start work, you can earn up to €165 a week and keep your full payment. If you earn between €165 and €375 from your job only half of this will be considered when the Department assess your Disability Allowance payment. If you leave your new job, you should contact the Department of Social Protection and your Disability Allowance will be quickly re-instated at the appropriate rate.

  The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection also have a ‘benefit of work’ estimator where you can enter your details (anonymously) and it will show you how income from employment may affect your disability or illness payment. See https://services.mywelfare.ie/en/topics/health-disability-illness/benefit-of-work-estimator/

  Also see: Citizens Information Service – DisabilityPayments and Work

• Can I start working and keep my free travel pass?

  If you decide to take up work, you can keep your free travel pass for as long as you qualify for Disability Allowance. If you take up work but no longer qualify for disability allowance, you can keep your free travel pass for 5 years.

• Can I start work and keep my medical card?

  If you take up any form of work, you can keep your medical card for 3 years if you were in receipt of the Disability Allowance for at least 12 months before starting work. The medical card earnings disregard for persons in receipt of Disability Allowance is €427 per week and will apply to the assessment process for both single persons and to family assessments. See https://health.gov.ie/blog/press-release/new-medical-card-measures-to-remove-barriers-to-work-for-people-with-disabilities-over-250-increase-in-earnings-disregard/

• Refusal and Appeals

  If your application is refused, you will be notified of your right to appeal.
  In 2022, an average of 52% of the appeals decided had a favourable outcome for the person making the appeal. This means that the appeal was either allowed in full or in part by an Appeals Officer or the appeal was resolved by way of a revised decision by a Deciding Officer or Designated Person, in favour of the person making the appeal.
  In 2022, 58% of appeals decided in relation to the Disability Allowance had a favourable outcome for the person making the appeal.

  During 2022, the average time taken to process all appeals was 14.9 weeks. For the Disability Allowance the time taken to process appeals was 13.7 weeks. (Social Welfare Appeals Office Annual Report 2022)

• For information on the appeals process visit

  Social Welfare Appeals Office

  Citizens Information Service – How to appeal a social welfare appeal

  You can get help with making an appeal from your local Citizens Information Service.

• Further Information

  Department of Social Protection – Disability Allowance

  Citizens Information Services – Disability Allowance

Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA)

The Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly payment to the parent or guardian of a child aged under 16 with a severe disability. This is a child requiring ongoing continual care and attention, substantially over and above the care and attention usually required by a child of the same age.

Applying for the Domiciliary Care Allowance

The Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly payment to the parent or guardian of a child aged under 16 with a severe disability. This is a child requiring ongoing continual care and attention, substantially over and above the care and attention usually required by a child of the same age.

The condition must be likely to last for at least 1 year.

DCA is based upon care needs, a formal diagnosis is not essential.

The DCA is not means tested, not subject to PRSI criteria, not subject to the working hours of the parent. The child must live at home with the person claiming the allowance for at least 5 days per week. A half payment option is available where the child is at home less than 5 days per week. If you qualify for Domiciliary Care Allowance you automatically qualify for the Carer’s Support Grant, paid in June each year.

The application form (DomCare1) and assistance completing the form is available on request from the Department of Employment Social and Family Protection (DEASP) or local Citizens Information Centre, or online.

• Refusal of DCA because of lack of information

  As a parent or guardian, you cherish your child’s abilities and achievements. It can be difficult to have to describe in detail what your child cannot do and the extra care needed. However, the DEASP say that the most common reason for refusal of an application for DCA is lack of information. It is important to describe, clearly and in detail, the extra care that you provide for your child.

  The DCA application form is long and detailed, particularly Part 4 – “Tell us about your child’s care needs”. Allow time to read the form carefully, complete each section and gather the additional information you want to include with your application form.

  It can be useful for your own records to keep a copy of the completed application form and any additional information included with the application.

• Completing Part 4 – “Tell us about your child’s care needs

  First complete the tick box  questions.
  Then use the additional space provided to give more information about your answers and describe the extra help your child needs most of the time. Be as detailed as possible.

• Include Extra Information

  Extra information can include reports from community health doctors or consultants, an Assessment of Need report (AON), the child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP), a letter from the child’s teacher, Special Needs Assistant or child-minder, or a family impact statement. If your child is attending any therapies include the therapist’s reports with your application.

  If your child has a pervasive development disorder, for example autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the medical professional or specialist dealing with your child can complete an additional medical form which can be submitted with your application. This form is called DomCare 3.

  A daily care diary can be a useful way to record and demonstrate extra care needs. Begin the diary in the morning and continue right through to nighttime, including any waking during the night. Ask yourself – “would I be helping another child of a similar age to do this?” For example, if a child requires assistance with the toilet, record each instance in detail. Use the diary to record all care needs over a few days and include it with your application.

• For more information about the Domiciliary Care Allowance

  Department of Social Protection – Domiciliary Care Allowance

  Citizens Information Service – Domiciliary Care Allowance

• Refusal and Appeals - Domiciliary Care Allowance

  If your application is refused, you will be notified of your right to appeal.
  In 2022, an average of 52% of the appeals decided had a favourable outcome for the person making the appeal. This means that the appeal was either allowed in full or in part by an Appeals Officer or the appeal was resolved by way of a revised decision by a Deciding Officer or Designated Person, in favour of the person making the appeal.
  In 2022, 72% of appeals decided in relation to Domiciliary Care Allowance had a favourable outcome for the person making the appeal.

  During 2022, the average time taken to process all appeals was 14.9 weeks. For Domiciliary Care Allowance the time taken to process appeals was 20 weeks. (Social Welfare Appeals Office Annual Report 2022)

• For information on the appeals process visit

  Social Welfare Appeals Office

  Citizens Information Service – How to appeal a social welfare appeal

  You can get help with making an appeal from your local Citizens Information Service.