Social Welfare Act, 2001

Respite care grant — increase.

14.—The Principal Act is amended by—

(a) the substitution for section 82F (inserted by section 10 of the Act of 2000) of the following section:

“Carer's benefit — respite care grant.

82F.—(1) Subject to subsection (2), a grant (in this section referred to as a ‘respite care grant’) shall—

(a) in the case of a person to whom section 82D(1)(a) applies, be payable in the amount of £800, or such higher amount as may be prescribed, and

(b) in any other case, be payable in the amount of £400, or such higher amount as may be prescribed,

to a carer in respect of the cost of respite care.

(2) A grant in accordance with subsection (1) shall be payable in each year to a carer who, on such date in each year as may be prescribed, is entitled to or in receipt of carer's benefit and only one such respite care grant shall be payable in each year to a carer.”,

and

(b) the substitution for section 168A (as amended by section 22 of the Act of 2000) of the following section:

“Carer's allowance — respite care grant.

168A.—(1) In this section a ‘relevant carer’ means a person who is—

(a) a carer who is entitled to or in receipt of carer's allowance under this Chapter,

(b) a prescribed relative within the meaning of section 163 and in respect of whom an allowance is payable under section 167, or

(c) providing full-time care to a person who is in receipt of an increase of disablement pension under section 57 in respect of the need for constant attendance.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), a grant (in this section referred to as a ‘respite care grant’) shall—

(a) in the case of a carer to whom section 165(1)(a) applies, be payable in each year in the amount of £800, or such higher amount as may be prescribed, and

(b) in the case of any other relevant carer, be payable in each year in the amount of £400 or such higher amount as may be prescribed,

in respect of the cost of respite care.

(3) Only one respite care grant shall be payable to a relevant carer in each year.

(4) Regulations made under this section shall prescribe—

(a) the date in each year on which a respite care grant shall become payable to a relevant carer, and

(b) the evidence to be submitted by a relevant carer to whom subsection (1)(c) applies, to show that he or she is on that date providing the care referred to in that subsection.”.