Allowances - see also Citizens Information Health Services for people with disabilities

There are a number of allowances for which parents/carers of WS individuals in Ireland may be eligible:

• Domiciliary Care Allowance is paid by the Health Service Executive in respect of disabled children under 16 years who require care and attention which is considerably in excess of that normally required by a child of the same age. Eligibility is determined primarily by reference to the degree of care and attention required by the child rather than to the type of handicap involved. The parents‘ means are not taken into account when assessing eligibility, but the child's means are assessable.
  At present the payment is €281.30 per month.
  Further information at the Health Service Executive Website or your local health board.
• Carer's Benefit is a payment made by the Department of Social and Family Affairs to PRSI insured persons who leave the workforce to care for a person in need of full-time care and attention. Where a Domiciliary Care Allowance is being paid by a Health Board in respect of a child no medical certification is required. The payment is made for 65 weeks which can be claimed in separate periods subject to a minimum of 6 weeks for any given period.
  Payment is currently €200.70 per week with increases for each child dependent.
  Further information at the Department's website or your local Social Welfare Office.
• Carer's Allowance is a means-tested payment made by the Department of Social and Family Affairs to carers on low incomes who live with and look after certain people in need of full-time care and attention. If the person being cared for is under 16 a Domiciliary Care Allowance must be in payment by a Health Board in respect of this person.
  The full payment is currently €200 per week, with increases for each child dependent. The recipient of the allowance is entitled to a Free Travel Pass in his/her own right, Free Telephone Rental Allowance, and may also qualify for Free Electricity / Natural Gas / Bottled Gas Refill Allowance, Free Television Licence and Medical Card.
  Further information at the Department's website or your local Social Welfare Office.
• Respite Care Grant An annual grant of €1,500 payable on the first Thursday in June to carers to cover the cost of respite care. Those in receipt of a Domiciliary Care Allowance, a Carer's Benefit or a Carer's Allowance automatically receive this payment. Carers not in receipt of these allowances can still apply. The payment is not means tested but a medical report is required.
  Further information at the Department's website or your local Social Welfare Office.
• Incapacitated Child Tax Credit can be claimed by a parent/guardian for a child who is permanently incapacitated, either physically or mentally, from maintaining himself or herself.
  The credit is currently €3,000.
  Further information at the Revenue Website or your tax office.
• Incapacitated Person - Credit for Employing a Carer This tax credit may be claimed if you employ a person to care for an incapacitated relative. It must be claimed annually.
  The credit is based on the cost of employing the carer, the maximum is currently €50,000 at standard tax rate. Those paying tax at the top rate get additional relief.
  Further information at the Revenue Website or your tax office.

An individual with WS who is over 16 may be eligible for:

• Disability Allowance A weekly allowance paid by the Department of Social and Family Affairs to people with a disability who are aged 16 or over and under age 66. The allowance is subject to both a medical suitability and a means test. Persons for whom Domiciliary Care Allowance is being claimed will automatically be invited to claim Disability Allowance before reaching age 16.
  At present the full payment is €185.80 per week.
  Further details at the Department's website or your local Social Welfare Office.
• Recipients of the Disability Allowance automatically receive a Free Travel Pass (and may qualify for a Companions Pass), and also qualify for a Medical Card from their health board.

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Moylan Family Website

Changes last made on Wednesday 21 February 2007.