Pension impact of Leaving Public Service to become a carer?

[redstar]

What would happen to the Pension entitlements of someone on PRSI Class D (Local Authority worker) who has to give up work to become a full-time Carer to an elderly parent ?

The person would normally retire in 6 years time but may have to leave this year due to unforeseen circumstances.
Does Carers Leave apply to someone in Class D employment?

 

[ClubMan]

Does Carers Leave apply to someone in Class D employment?

Carer's Leave entitlement has nothing to do with PRSI.

Carer's leave

The Carers Leave Act 2001 allows employees to take unpaid time off work to provide full-time care for people that require this care.

www.citizensinformation.ie

Do you actually mean entitlement to Carer's Benefit/Allowance?

Carer's Benefit

Carer's Benefit is a social insurance payment made to someone who gives up work or reduces their hours to care for person in need of full time care.

www.citizensinformation.ie

Carer's Allowance

Carer's Allowance is a means-tested payment to people on low incomes who are caring for an incapacitated person.

www.citizensinformation.ie

Benefits are PRSI linked - allowances are means tested.
Class D PRSI benefits include Carer's Benefit.

PRSI Class D Rates

www.gov.ie

 

[raisinette]

@redstar You would (very likely) be entitled to Carer's Benefit (on the basis of your PRSI contributions - Class D1 is eligible here). This is a weekly payment (now €237) with some flexibility towards part-time work (to 18.5hrs I believe) if that is an option. The Carer's Support Grant (payable in Jun) is also worth noting but you need to be in receipt of the CB at that time.
As for Carer's Leave, this is an entitlement to step out of the workforce for a period (or periods) totalling 104 weeks (2 yrs). This is typically no less than 13 weeks at a time. It is unpaid (aside from the Carer's Benefit above) and it's important to note that no pension contributions are gained while on this leave. You may find you can return to work after the 2 yr period though and your post remains open to you.
Do consider taking periods of Carer's Leave (if possible) rather than all at once to make it go further for you and keep you post open should circumstances change. If you retire and seek to re-enter public service later, it may not be on the same pension basis as before - read, worse terms.
I wish you (or your friend) the best as caring can be a challenging occupation.

 

[redstar]

Thanks @raisinette
Some good points to consider there.