As a carer what would be my entitlements ?

[naturallydelicious]

Hello everyone, I was just looking for some advice .

I am a stay at home carer for our 11 year old son . We are over the thresholds for carers allowance so we don't receive that .

I can't work due to our son's needs but my husband does. He works in a very demanding job which sees him gone for 12/13 hours a day . He has been doing this job and these hours for the last 25 years and I think he is now physically & mentally at breaking point and needs to have a break . He is reluctant to do so as he is worried about how we will cope financially. And How will we pay the mortgage & bills
But I think it's a necessity at this point .

If he takes some time off work then I could try get a job ,but in the mean time what would we be entitled too ?
Do they take savings & illness benefit into account when being means tested?

I might be wrong but I thought Carers Allowance was based on your personal earning rather than household income.

So if you’re not working then you should be eligible?

Savings will depend on how much you have, but also there is very little additional help to pay mortgage payments (opposed to rent).

How long do you think your husband needs to reset? Is getting signed off sick for a few weeks an option? Or taking some extended unpaid time off?

@woolflower thank you for replying.
I meant carers Benefit, I always get them mixed up .

I think my husband needs to look at a whole career change, to be honest . He is close to burn out . I can count on one hand the amount of 6 days he has had in 25 years . He is literally dragging himself out of
The bed at 6 each morning.

*sick days

To be honest, getting up at 6am is pretty standard for most workers. What’s his job?

Carers benefit is based on stamp contributions and the carer needs to taking time off up to 104 weeks I think. As a STHP you wouldn't qualify without contributions

Carers allowance is means tested but also dependant on the needs of the person being cared for.

www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social-welfare/carers/carers-allowance/

To be honest I would looking at carers allowance and DCA if you are not already receiving same.

www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social-welfare/disability-and-illness/domiciliary-care-allowance/#:~:text=The%20Domiciliary%20Care%20Allowance%20(DCA,month%20for%20the%20current%20month.

I would also just apply for CA and see what happens, there is a sliding scale depending on the income in the household.

This court case is still ruling but will have a huge financial impact for a lot of carers if she wins.

www.rte.ie/news/courts/2024/0411/1442996-referendum-court/#:~:text=The%20Supreme%20Court%20has%20begun,importance%20to%20carers%20in%20particular.

Political I know but this case had a lot to do with the referendum earlier this year.

But back to you I would stick an application for both CA and DCA and see what the ruling is.

You don't mention but do you have a medical card.

A lot of people in Ireland qualify for MC or GPVC but do not realise it and it's not an easy system to navigate.

MC takes a lot of outgoings into consideration, mortgage/rent, work travel costs, life insurance. It is also net income assessment, so after PAYE, PRSI, USC.

It is usually the outgoings that bring most people over the threshold

Also not sure if the DH has a sick scheme, in his employment but there is legislation now for people to take sick leave.

www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/employment-rights-and-conditions/leave-and-holidays/sick-leave-and-sick-pay/

Government passed this through when it exploded during Covid, with people going to work as couldn't afford not to.

Thank you so much @DublinFemale .

We don't have medical cards . I never applied for them because I assume we would be over the threshold.

I will definitely apply for DCA again , have been refused in the past .
If my husband does take time off work then I will apply for CA.

Hi OP I'm also a carer who receives no carers allowance so I get it. You can earn 63k now before means testing for CA (or that's is the amount it's being changed to I've no idea of the date when it changes)and you can have 50k each in savings before it's taken into account

Do try the DCA again. You will also get a medical card for your DC while you’re getting this and also Carer’s Support Grant - €1850 (going up to €2000 next year) every June. It stops when DC turns 16.

Also, the Carer’s Support Grant isn’t means tested so you can apply for it even if you don’t qualify for CA because of your household means. If you get DCA you’ll get this automatically for a few years anyway (until 16), but you’ll then need to apply for it unless you’re getting CA.

Also, I think for those under 16 you do need to be in receipt of the DCA to qualify for CA. Check this though in case I’m wrong!

If you’re not already a member of Family Carers Ireland I would join, OP. They are a good support. Free online lectures every so often about pensions etc, or how to support those you care for. Also your membership comes with some discounts for certain businesses and they have lots of info on their site.