We currently receive Domiciliary care allowance for my son . My husband works . I am a sahm . Husbands salary would be quiet good on paper .... Is there any point applying for carers allowance ? I am having problems trying to figure this out and calculate so any advice or help appreciated . Tks
Here are the rules on assessing income for the Carer's Allowance means test:
The means test for the Carer's Allowance involves assessing your income (excluding your home). €332.50 of your gross weekly income is not taken into account (or disregarded). If you are married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting the first €665 of your combined gross weekly income is disregarded. PRSI, union dues, superannuation (pension contributions) and travel expenses are also deducted.
If you are getting a social welfare payment from another state an amount up to the maximum rate of the Irish State Pension (Contributory) is exempt from the means test. Any foreign social welfare payment above the maximum Irish State Pension (Contributory) rate is treated as income for the means test.
If your husband's gross salary minus PRSI, Superannuation, Union dues and travel expenses is more than €665 per week, you won't qualify. *** (see below)
Savings are also assessed, but the first €20,000 is disregarded.
Kittycat, my apologies - Black sheep is correct, I misled you on my original reply. I mixed up the disregard with maximum earnings allowed. Thanks for keeping me right, Black Sheep!!
I will put an edit into my post in case anyone reads it in the future.
Thank you .... That is a very good explaination although I thought income tax was not taken into account ie it is based on gross earnings minus Prsi etcetera ? Tks