Campaign highlights benefits available to carers

A NATIONAL advertising campaign will take place next month to alert Ireland’s 150,000 family carers to their legal rights and entitlements.

The €130,000 television and radio campaign from the Social and Family Affairs Department will run from September 25 to 29 to highlight changes to the carer’s allowance, carer’s benefit and respite care grant.

The Carers Association has urged people to avail of the supports, as only around one in five carers have applied for, or are automatically entitled to, the respite care grant.

“We welcome the department’s campaign to publicise help available for carers and increases in existing payments as it is imperative carers, a particularly vulnerable sector of society, have their rights and entitlements made clearly available to support their invaluable work,” said Enda Egan, Carers Association chief executive.

“One of the largest difficulties experienced by family carers is getting information on and access to state benefits and many carers have contacted our helpline in relation to difficulties experienced in applying for various payments and entitlements.

“This can be a very frustrating process and often costs them dearly in terms of stress, time and money.”

The means-testing of carer’s income has been extended for the carer’s allowance; the duration of receipt for the carer’s benefit has been extended from nine months to two years and the respite care grant has risen from €200 to €1,200.

Mr Egan said: “We are disappointed with the number of carers who have applied to date for the respite care grant, particularly as it has increased.

“There are many other carers who would be entitled to this annual payment and we would urge all carers who think they may be entitled to apply.

“We would ask the Department of Social and Family Affairs to make the application process as straightforward as possible and ensure health professionals are fully informed to better help and advise carers,” he said.