32. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if there has been an increase in the number of persons qualifying for the carers allowance on each of the occasions when the qualification threshold has been relaxed, or each occasion where the income disregard has increased; and if he will outline the number of new persons successfully claiming the allowance after each change to the criteria. [67173/26]

Carer’s Allowance is a means-tested social assistance payment for people who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who requires such care.

There are a number of qualifying conditions for Carer’s Allowance.  These include conditions relating to the care recipient’s need for full-time care and attention, the provision of that care by the applicant, the applicant’s employment or education circumstances, residency requirements and satisfaction of the means test.

The income disregard applying to Carer’s Allowance has been increased significantly in recent years.  In July 2025, the weekly income disregard was increased to €625 for a single person and €1,250 for a couple.

As part of Budget 2026, I announced further improvements to the Carer’s Allowance means test, which took effect from 2 July this year.  The weekly income disregard increased by 60%, from €625 to €1,000 for a single person and from €1,250 to €2,000 for carers who are part of a couple.

My Department does not hold data that would allow it to identify the number of new recipients who qualified specifically as a result of each increase in the income disregard.  However, information is available on the direct impact of the two most recent increases on people who were already receiving Carer’s Allowance.

Following the increase introduced in 2025, approximately 5,200 recipients benefited from an increase in their rate of payment.  Following the most recent increase in 2026, approximately 2,700 recipients benefited from an increased rate.

The overall number of people receiving Carer’s Allowance was 97,985 at the end of 2024, compared with 104,522 at the end of 2025 and 110,808 at the end of August 2026.

The overall number of recipients reflects both new claims coming into payment and existing claims closing, for example where caring responsibilities cease or a person no longer satisfies the qualifying conditions.

More generally, the number of people receiving Carer’s Allowance has been growing year on year, reflecting a range of demographic and social factors, including an ageing population, growth in the number of people providing care and increased awareness of the supports available to carers.

The successive increases in the income disregard have made the Carer’s Allowance means test significantly more generous and have also provided increased support to existing recipients affected by the means test.

The Government recognises the vital contribution made by family carers and remains committed to supporting them through the social protection system.