S.I. No. 722/2022 - Social Welfare (Carer’s Support Grant) (Temporary Provisions) Regulations 2022

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 3rd January, 2023.

I, HEATHER HUMPHREYS, Minister for Social Protection, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by sections 4 (amended by section 10 of the Social Welfare Act 2020 (No. 30 of 2020)) and 292 (amended by section 8 of and schedule 1 to the Social Welfare Act 2017 (No. 38 of 2017)) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (No.26 of 2005), with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, hereby make the following Regulations:

Citation

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Social Welfare (Carer’s Support Grant) (Temporary Provisions) Regulations 2022.

Definitions

2. In these Regulations—

“Principal Act” means the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 ;

“Principal Regulations” means the Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims,

Payments and Control) Regulations 2007 ( S.I. No. 142 of 2007 );

“relevant date” means in relation to carer’s support grant—

(i) in the case of a person who, under section 224(1) of the Principal Act, is a carer on the basis of an entitlement to carer’s benefit, carer’s allowance, or a payment under section 186A of the Principal Act during the period commencing on 24 November 2022 and expiring on 30 November 2022, 2 June 2022;

(ii) in the case of a person who, under section 224(1) of the Principal Act, is a carer on the basis of an entitlement to domiciliary care allowance during the period commencing on 1 November 2022 and expiring on 30 November 2022, 2 June 2022;

(iii) in the case of a person who, under section 224(1) of the Principal Act, is a carer under paragraph (c), and who on 21 November 2022 is providing full-time care and attention to a person who is in receipt of an increase of disablement pension under section 78 in respect of the need for constant attendance, 2 June 2022; and

(iv) in the case of a person who, under section 224(1) of the Principal Act, is a carer under paragraphs (d), or (e), and who on 2 June 2022 has established an entitlement to payment under articles 163, 164, and 165 of the Principal Regulations, and who on 21 November 2022 is still providing care to a relevant person under section 224(1), 2 June 2022.

Temporary variation of rates of certain social welfare payments

3. (1) This article applies to a person who is, or becomes, entitled to a carer’s support grant in respect of the relevant date.

(2) In the case of a person to whom sub-article (1) of this article applies, the amount of carer’s support grant payable to that person in respect of the relevant date shall be increased by €500.

(3) A person shall not be entitled to an increase in accordance with sub-article (2) of this article where that person is entitled to a payment under the Social Welfare (Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Invalidity Pension) (Temporary Provisions) Regulations 2022.

(4) A person shall not be entitled to an increase in carer’s support grant in accordance with sub-article (2) of this article in respect of more than one relevant person under section 224(1) of the Principal Act.

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform consents to the making of the foregoing Regulations.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

29 November, 2022.

MICHAEL MCGRATH,

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

29 November, 2022.

HEATHER HUMPHREYS,

Minister for Social Protection.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

These Regulations provide for the payment of a bonus to recipients of carer’s support grant (including recipients of Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and other recipients of the Carer’s Support Grant) during the week beginning 21 November 2022.

The amount of the bonus is €500.