Donegal's 147 carers to benefit from income threshold change for 'invaluable work'

Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary will implement an increase to the income disregard for the Carer’s Allowance from Thursday, July 3.

The weekly disregard will rise from €450 to €625 for single carers, and from €900 to €1,250 for carers with a spouse or partner.

This reform will extend eligibility for the Carer’s Allowance to more people than ever before, while many existing recipients will see an increase in their payments. The change represents an 88 per cent rise in income disregards since June 2022, reflecting Fianna Fáil’s continued commitment to supporting carers in a meaningful and practical way.

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In Donegal, there will be a significant increase in the number of carers receiving the allowance; furthermore, 147 carers currently receiving the allowance will see their weekly payments increase.

“Carers are the backbone of our communities, providing vital and often unseen support to our loved ones, friends, and neighbours,” said Pat the Cope Gallagher, Fianna Fáil, said. “Their tireless dedication deserves more than just words; it requires real, practical action. We all know the vital role carers play across our county and country. It is only right that their invaluable work is properly recognised and supported.

“Starting Thursday, 147 families in Donegal currently receiving Carer's Allowance will benefit from this change to the income thresholds while others will now be eligible for the Allowance for the first time. This is a meaningful step that will ease pressure on families and acknowledge the crucial role carers have in our community.”

As announced in Budget 2025, these changes mean a carer in a two-adult household earning up to €69,000 will now receive the full Carer’s Allowance, while those with incomes up to €97,000 will qualify for a partial payment. From July, 99% of current recipients will qualify for the full-rate payment.

The Carer’s Allowance supports over 100,000 carers across Ireland. In 2025, spending on this allowance is expected to exceed €1.24 billion. In addition, the Department of Social Protection provides non-means-tested supports such as the Carer’s Benefit and the annual Carer’s Support Grant of €2,000, which was recently paid to more than 138,000 carers on June 5.

“This is not the final step, but real progress towards Fianna Fáil’s commitment to abolish the means test for Carer’s Allowance,” Gallagher added. “I look forward to working closely with the Minister to continue strengthening support for our careers in the future.

“We know carers across Donegal deserve more than just our thanks; they deserve real, practical support. That is, we are taking action and delivering meaningful improvements. This increase is part of our continued commitment to supporting the vital work of carers do in homes and communities every day.”