Full time carers allowed non means tested grant from today

The overall cost of the grant is expected to be in the region of 260 million Euro.

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Those caring full-time for an older person or someone with a disability will be able to avail of a non means tested grant of 1,850 Euro from today.

125 thousand Carers and their families will be eligible to claim the annual payment.

The overall cost of the grant is expected to be in the region of 260 million Euro.

Catherine Cox from Family Carers Ireland is welcoming it, but says all carers allowances should not be means tested:

'There are five hundred thousand family carers out there providing care for loved ones in their own home.' 

'Only one in four of them are able to get access to the carers allowance, mainly because of the means testing.'

'So one of the things we have been calling for, for years, is that carers allowance should be needs tested rather than means.'