Friday 15th November 2024
Fine Gael will completely reform financial supports for Family Carers by abolishing the Carer’s Allowance Means Test and introducing a new Family Carer Payment of €325 per week, a Fine Gael Councillor has said.
Local Fine Gael General Election Candidate, Councillor John Paul O’Shea, said the move would support thousands of family carers across Cork.
Fine Gael will immediately double the weekly earnings limits to €1,250 for a single Carer and €2,500 for a couple.
In a situation where a mother has to give up her job to provide full time care to a child with special needs, this would mean her husband/partner could have an annual salary of €130,000 and she would still qualify for the full payment.
Fine Gael will continue to increase this limit in each Budget with the means test completely phased out over the term of the next Government
Councillor O’Shea said:
“Today Fine Gael is setting out its plan to support our family carers.
“Most people in the social welfare system receive a payment because they either can’t work or won’t work.
“Carers are working 24/7 providing full-time care to loved ones – we need to recognise them.
“If a mother has to give up her job and career to provide full time care to a child with a disability, the current system means if her husband earns over a certain limit, she is essentially not recognised by the State – Fine Gael will change this.
“Carers save the State billions every year and we are determined that the vital work and contribution they make to society is recognised and valued.
“Fine Gael increased the Carer’s Support Grant to €2,000 – it’s highest ever level. We have increased weekly payments to Carers by €41 and we have ensured Carers were prioritised in all of the Cost of Living lump sum payments.
“Indeed only this week 145,000 Carers across the country will receive a €400 lump sum payment to help them with the cost of living.
“Fine Gael also passed the legislation to provide a pension for long term Carers ensuring they receive pension contributions for the time they spent caring – that was a major policy change by Fine Gael to support Carers in the last Government.
“The means test is unfinished business and the Taoiseach has made it very clear Fine Gael will abolish the means test if we’re returned to Government and increase the weekly payment to Carers to €325.
ENDS
