Q: I have recently become a full-time carer for my mother. What is the Carer’s Support Grant and can I get it?

A: The Carer's Support Grant is an annual payment for full-time carers, paid by the Department of Social Protection (DSP) usually on the first Thursday in June each year. The grant for 2021 is €1,850. It is paid automatically to people getting Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit or Domiciliary Care Allowance. Other carers may qualify for the grant.

To qualify, you must be over 16 and:

• Caring for a person who needs help due to age, illness or disability
• Have cared for the person full-time for at least six months, to include the first Thursday in June
• Live with the person or be contactable immediately if you live elsewhere
• Live full-time in Ireland and do not live in a medical facility

You won’t qualify if you are working, studying or training more than 18.5 hours a week, getting a jobseeker’s payment or signing on for credits during the six-month caring period.

Q: How do I apply and where?

A: If you already get Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit or Domiciliary Care Allowance, you get the Carer’s Support Grant automatically in June 2022. If you do not get one of these payments, you can still qualify and should fill out one application form for each person you care for.

You can also pick up a form from your Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office or Citizens Information Centre.

You can apply for a Carer's Support Grant for any given year from April of that year until December 31 of the following year.

Read more about the Carer’s Support Grant on citizensinformation.ie or you can call a member of the local Citizens Information Service in Kerry on 0818 07 7860. The telephone lines are staffed from 10am to 4pm from Monday to Friday. The National Phone Service is available on 0818 07 4000 Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm. Alternatively, you can email tralee@citinfo.ie or log on to www.citizensinformation.ie.
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