Welcome news for 3,500 Meath carers as €1,700 support grant kicks in

Over 3,500 carers in County Meath will benefit from the Carer’s Support Grant with an annual grant of €1,700 being made available from today to all carers providing full-time care to an older person or a person with a disability, regardless of their means or social insurance contributions.

Those carers who are providing care for two or more people will receive a grant in respect of each person being cared for, to take account of the additional costs and challenges of providing care to more than one person.

The Carer’s Support Grant, announced today by Minister for Social Protection, Regina Doherty, is paid automatically to carers who are receiving Carer’s Allowance (whether full rate or half rate), Carer’s Benefit, or Domiciliary Care Allowance. Other full-time carers who are not receiving any of these payments may also apply for the Carer’s Support Grant.

“I am very pleased to have been able to allocate €218 million for the Carer’s Support Grant this year which will benefit carers throughout the country, including 3,500 in Meath. It will be paid automatically to those receiving the Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit, and Domiciliary Care Allowance. It is also available full-time carers who are not in receipt of these payments and I would urge any such carers on Meath to apply for this grant. It is not means-tested and is assessed on the level of care being provided by the carer.”

The closing date for receipt of applications for the 2019 Grant is 31 December next year (31 December 2020).