Carers Allowance & Domiciliary Allowance

jimmers23

Hi,
Our son has been diagnosed with a severe developmental global delay. We are in the process of applying for the domiciliary allowance and incapacitated child tax credit. We are both working. I am a teacher working 15 hours per week and earning approx 500 after tax. I read online that you can apply for carers allowance and work 15 hours a week. Any idea how the means testing works? My husband also earns aprox 500 per week after tax. Would means testing disqualify us from any benefit? I am looking into the possibility of dropping some hours next year due to care needs and my son attending a special preschool. What would our combined income need to be to receive any of the carers allowance?
Many thanks

LegacyUser

Firstly Domiciliary Care is not means tested. It is based solely on the needs of the child.

Secondly, have you looked into Carers Benefit? It is not means tested.

Thirdly, the first €665 of your earnings are disregarded for the carers allowance means test so you might qualify for Carers Allowance but I'll look it up and come back to you.

LegacyUser

Here you go:

How means are assessed
The means test for Carer's Allowance involves assessing your income (excluding your home). If you are single, €332.50 of your gross weekly income is not taken into account (or disregarded). If you are married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting the first €665 of your combined gross weekly income is disregarded. PRSI, union dues, superannuation (pension contributions) and travel expenses are also deducted. For a couple, the combined gross weekly balance is then halved to give the carer's weekly means.

Plugguy

jimmers23 wrote: »

Hi,
Our son has been diagnosed with a severe developmental global delay. We are in the process of applying for the domiciliary allowance and incapacitated child tax credit. We are both working. I am a teacher working 15 hours per week and earning approx 500 after tax. I read online that you can apply for carers allowance and work 15 hours a week. Any idea how the means testing works? My husband also earns aprox 500 per week after tax. Would means testing disqualify us from any benefit? I am looking into the possibility of dropping some hours next year due to care needs and my son attending a special preschool. What would our combined income need to be to receive any of the carers allowance?
Many thanks

How means are assessed
The means test for Carer's Allowance involves assessing your income (excluding your home). If you are single, €332.50 of your gross weekly income is not taken into account (or disregarded). If you are married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting the first €665 of your combined gross weekly income is disregarded. PRSI, union dues, superannuation (pension contributions) and travel expenses are also deducted. For a couple, the combined gross weekly balance is then halved to give the carer's weekly means.

If you are getting a social welfare payment from another state an amount up to the maximum rate of the Irish State Pension (Contributory) is exempt from the means test. Any foreign social welfare payment above the maximum Irish State Pension (Contributory) rate is treated as income for the means test.

If you are getting maintenance payments, these are assessed (along with any other source of income) and the first €332.50 (or €665 for a couple) is disregarded.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/carers/carers_allowance.html