Family Carers Ireland says there is an urgent need for long-term solutions to address the financial hardship facing family carers amid a worsening cost-of-living crisis.
The national charity representing Ireland’s 500,000 family carers says that the announcement of a €200 lump sum payment to all long-term social welfare recipients is welcome and may offer some temporary relief to those in receipt of Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Benefit. However, full-time family carers who qualify for the non-means tested Carer’s Support Grant, but do not receive Carer’s Allowance because of the means test, will miss out.
Reacting to the Government’s announcement, Catherine Cox, Head of Communications and Policy with Family Carers Ireland, said there is much financial distress amongst the carer’s community.
“A survey of almost 1,500 family carers carried out by Family Carers Ireland in early 2022 found that over two-thirds of respondents were experiencing financial distress. There is little doubt that inflation in recent months means there is now a greater number of family carers across the country struggling to pay their bills, keep their homes warm and put food on the table.
“We are urgently calling for reform of the Carer’s Allowance payment, moving it away from means testing towards adequate payment for work done, work that needs to valued and recognised in our society.
“We welcome the additional €100 announced for those in receipt of child benefit along with the €100 increase in the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance which will benefit those caring for children and young adults with disabilities.
“Caring for a loved one at home does incur significant additional costs which are all year round such as higher electricity bills, higher heating costs and higher fuel costs for hospital and medical appointments; as highlighted in ‘Our Care at Home - Costs of Care Arising from Disability’ research published last year which estimated this additional cost to be €244 per week in a household where there is a person with profound disability.
“Whilst we acknowledge that efforts are being made to alleviate the cost-of-living crisis in the short term, we must stress the need for long-term solutions to the many challenges facing those who care for loved ones at home, of which financial hardships are just one,” Ms Cox asserted.
