Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit and the Carer’s Support Grant

Who this is for

• People giving full-time care (at least 35 hours a week over 5 to 7 days) to someone who needs continual supervision because of age, disability or illness.
• Employees who need to leave work or cut hours to care for someone (Carer’s Benefit, with Carer’s Leave from the employer).
• Full-time carers who do not get either payment but may still qualify for the annual grant.

Before you start

• A verified MyGovID account if you want to apply online for Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Benefit (Public Services Card, verified mobile number and email).^[1][3]
• The medical report form CARMed1 completed by the doctor of the person you care for, unless that person is a child getting Domiciliary Care Allowance.^[1][3]
• For Carer’s Benefit, apply at least six weeks before you plan to leave work.^[3]

Step by step

1. 1

   Decide which payment fits

   Use the comparison below. Carer’s Allowance depends on a means test; Carer’s Benefit depends on your PRSI record and recent employment; the Carer’s Support Grant is neither means tested nor PRSI based.^[1][3][7] You can hold Carer’s Allowance at half rate alongside certain other welfare payments, but not alongside Carer’s Benefit.^[1][5]
2. 2

   Apply online or on paper

   Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Benefit: MyWelfare is the quickest route; the paper forms are CR1 and CARB1 from gov.ie, Intreo offices, branch offices or post offices.^[1][3] One form is needed for each person you care for.^[5] Carer’s Support Grant: if you are not on either payment or Domiciliary Care Allowance, post form CSG1 with supporting documents; the official pages describe no online route for the grant.^[4]
3. 3

   Send the supporting forms within 21 days

   After an online application you have 21 days to send the paper CARMed1 medical report, an employer declaration (CA-ER1 for Allowance, CARB-ER1 for Benefit covering the last six months) and an education declaration (CAR-ED1) if you are studying.^[5][6] Self-employed applicants for Carer’s Benefit may be asked for a Revenue return and accounts.^[6]
4. 4

   Wait for the decision, and appeal within 60 days if refused

   You may get Supplementary Welfare Allowance while a Carer’s Allowance application is processed. If refused, appeal within 60 days of the decision.^[5]

Documents to have ready

The three payments compared

What comes with the payments

People on Carer’s Allowance can also get a GP visit card, Free Travel, the Household Benefits Package if they live with the person they care for, and Fuel Allowance if they meet its conditions; people on Carer’s Benefit can get a GP visit card.^[5][6] Both payments are taxable and are reported to Revenue from 1 January 2026; the grant is not taxed.^[1][3][4]

If the person you care for goes into a nursing home full time, Carer’s Allowance can continue for 12 weeks; if they die, Carer’s Allowance continues for 12 weeks and Carer’s Benefit for 6 weeks.^[1][5][6] You can take up to three weeks’ holiday a year on Carer’s Allowance if you arrange full-time care.^[5]

Carer’s Leave from work

Separately from any payment, the Carer’s Leave Act 2001 lets an employee take unpaid leave of between 13 and 104 weeks per person cared for, with the job kept open, even if they do not qualify for Carer’s Benefit or Allowance. Queries go to the Workplace Relations Commission on 0818 80 80 90.^[3]

What happens next

Carer’s Benefit is awarded for up to 104 weeks per person, which can be taken in separate spells; the contribution conditions only need to be met the first time. Credited PRSI contributions are added for each week on Carer’s Benefit when the claim closes.^[3][6] The grant is paid automatically every June to people on the qualifying payments.^[4]

If something goes wrong

Carer’s Allowance Section: Social Welfare Services Office, Government Buildings, Ballinalee Road, Longford, N39 E4E0; 0818 927 770 or 043 334 0000; Carersallowance@welfare.ie.^[1] Carer’s Benefit Section: same address; Carersbenefit@welfare.ie.^[3] Carer’s Support Grant Section: same address; Carerssupportgrant@welfare.ie.^[4]

Family Carers Ireland offers support to carers: 1800 24 07 24 or info@familycarers.ie.^[5] This guide describes the schemes; it cannot tell you whether you qualify. The Department decides each application.

Common questions

Can two people share the caring and the payment?

Yes. Two carers can share one Carer’s Allowance and one grant where each provides full-time care on alternate weeks.

Can I get Carer’s Allowance with my State Pension?

You can keep a main welfare payment such as a State Pension and get half-rate Carer’s Allowance as well, provided you meet all the caring conditions. The listed exceptions include Jobseeker’s payments, Working Family Payment and Carer’s Benefit.

Is the form called CB1?

No. The Carer’s Benefit form is CARB1; Carer’s Allowance is CR1; the grant is CSG1.