Financial Supports

Below is a summary of some of the benefits and allowances that parents of children with additional needs might apply for. We also have a more detailed section on benefits and allowances on the website.

Carer's Allowance

A weekly payment for caring for someone who needs support because of age, disability, or illness (including mental illness). It is means-tested and is a taxable source of income. You cannot claim carer’s allowance for a child under 16 unless they qualify for domicilliary care allowance (DCA). If your child is over 16, a medical report needs to be completed. Carers can work up to 18.5 hrs a week as long as their income does not go over the limit.

See here for further information and application forms.

Carer's Benefit

A weekly payment to people who leave work or need to reduce their work hours to care for a person who needs full time care. Carer’s benefit is not means-tested. It is based on PRSI contributions. You can get carer’s benefit for a total of 104 weeks for each person being cared for. You cannot work for more than 18.5 hours per week. You can also get a GP visit card. You may also get a carer's support grant. If you do not return to work, you can apply for carer’s allowance, which is means-tested. 

See here for further information and application forms.

Domiciliary Care Allowance

This is a monthly payment for a child under 16 years with a severe disability. Payment is based on the impact of the disability. It is not means-tested. There are no restrictions on applying for the allowance for multiple children with disabilities.

Your GP will fill out the medical form (DCAMed1).  If your child is seeing a specialist regularly, they will fill out the DOM Care 3 specialist form. Include copies of any reports, including diagnostic reports.

You may qualify for carer's benefit or carer's allowance if you meet the criteria for these payments. If you are getting DCA, you don’t need to fill in the medical report part of the form when applying for carer's allowance.

See here for further information and application forms. 

Disability Allowance

When your child turns 16, they can apply for the disability allowance (DA). It is means tested. A parent’s income is not considered. The recipient can attend full-time education and training. If they qualify for DA, they may also get extra social welfare benefits and other supplementary welfare payments.

See here for further information and application forms. 

Carer’s Support Grant

This is a payment made by Department of Social Protection each June. It is paid automatically to a carer in receipt of domiciliary care allowance, carer’s benefit or carer’s allowance. It is fully exempt from income tax, PRSI and USC.

See here for further information.

Carer's GP Visit Card

If you get carer’s benefit or carer's allowance, at full or half rate, you can visit your GP for free.

See here for further information and an application form.

Other

If you are in receipt of carer’s allowance and/or other disability-related payments you are also entitled to other financial supports including Household Benefits Package and a Free Travel Pass.

Housing Adaptation Grant: This is financial assistance to make changes or adaptations to your home, for example, to make it wheelchair-accessible, or add a ground-floor bathroom. See: Housing Adaptation Grant for Disabled People

Fully Funded Energy Upgrades (formally known as Warmer Homes Scheme): You need to meet the following criteria to get this: