Seán Canney TD, Minister of State for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports and Leader in Cabinet of the Independent Ministers, has highlighted significant improvements to Carer’s Allowance, as work continues on a key commitment secured by the Independents entering Government.

The Programme for Government commits to significantly increasing the income disregards for Carer’s Allowance in each Budget, with a view to phasing out the means test during the lifetime of the Government and was a key priority for the Independents entering Government. This process is now well underway.

As part of Budget 2026, the weekly income disregard increased by 60% from 2 July this year, from €625 to €1,000 for a single person and from €1,250 to €2,000 for carers who are part of a couple.

These are the largest-ever increases in the income disregards and have resulted in more carers qualifying for Carer’s Allowance and existing recipients receiving higher payments.

An estimated 2,700 carers received an increase in their Carer’s Allowance payment from 2 July this year, while virtually all carers currently receiving Carer’s Allowance are now being paid the maximum rate.

Minister Canney said: “Reform of the Carer’s Allowance means test was a major priority for the Independent members supporting Government and we ensured there was a clear commitment in the Programme for Government to make significant progress on it.

“We are now seeing that commitment make a real difference. The income disregard has increased by 60%, more carers can qualify for support.

“A single carer working part-time can now earn up to €50,000 and retain their full Carer’s Allowance. For couples, the changes mean a carer in a two-adult household with an income of approximately €110,000 can retain the full payment, while a partial payment can still be retained with an income of €138,000.

“Family carers provide an invaluable service in communities across the country. I and my Independent colleagues were very clear that the means test needed to be addressed. Significant progress has been made.”

There are currently just under 108,000 carers receiving Carer’s Allowance.

Applications for the payment are also continuing to increase. There were 26,993 new applications in 2025, an increase of 18.4% on 2024. In the first six months of 2026, applications increased by a further 14% compared with the same period in 2025, with 15,246 applications received and 12,812 awarded.

Department of Social Protection analysis has found that the main impact of the increased income disregard has been to enable existing recipients on means-reduced payments to move to higher rates, including the maximum rate, while a smaller cohort of new recipients have become eligible as a result of the changes.