Calls to scrap Carer’s Allowance means test as 37% of claims are rejected

Figures provided to Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín following a parliamentary question to social protection minister Dara Calleary show that, on average, more than a third of Carer’s Allowance claims are being rejected. File Picture: PA

Over a third of claims for the Carer’s Allowance are being rejected each year sparking renewed calls for the means test to be scrapped in the upcoming budget.

The Government has said it will increase the income disregard for the carer’s allowance in each budget with a view to phasing it out before the end of its term in office in 2029.

The most recent increase to the income disregard was in July. The first €625 of a single person’s weekly earnings is not accounted for in the means test. This increases to €1,250 for a couple.

The maximum weekly rates for the payments range between €260 and €447.

New figures provided to Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín following a parliamentary question to social protection minister Dara Calleary show that, on average, around 37% of Carer’s Allowance claims are being rejected.

Mr Calleary provided a table containing both the number of people who were awarded the allowance and the number of people who had their application rejected between 2015 and August of this year.

On average, 16,343 people were awarded the allowance each year. This peaked at 19,308 in 2016. Up to the end of August, 13,809 people have been awarded it to date this year.

In the same 10-year period, an average of 9,427 claims were rejected each year, peaking at 11,144 in 2016.

Some 9,427 claims were rejected by the end of August.

On average, each year, 37% of claims were rejected.

Mr Tóibín said the figures were “extraordinary” and called on the Government to commit to eradicating the means test urgently.

He noted that last year, Aontú and other members of the Regional Technical Group introduced a motion which called for the abolition of the Carer's Allowance means test by 2027.

It was introduced by independent TD Sean Canney. Noel Grealish was the third speaker to the motion in the Dáil.

Both TDs are now ministers of state in this Government.

He said that, at the time, the government did not oppose the motion. 

“The Government parties and Independents must explain why they have not committed to the 2027 timeline set out in our motion," Mr Tóibín said.

“The means test on the Carer's Allowance is discriminatory, particularly towards women who are often refused the allowance based on their husband's or partner's income.

"The numbers being refused the allowance looks set to increase this year, despite the changes the Government has made. The Department of social protection need to explain this phenomenon.”