Carer's Support Grant

What is the Carer's Support Grant?

The Carer’s Support Grant is paid to carers once a year by the Department of Social Protection (DSP). It used to be called the Respite Care Grant.

You can use the grant in whatever way you like. You can use it to pay for respite care if you wish, but you do not have to. There is information on our website about respite care facilities.

In June of each year (usually on the first Thursday of the month), the DSP pays the grant automatically to carers getting Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit, or Domiciliary Care Allowance. Only one Carer’s Support Grant can be paid for each person getting care.

The Carer’s Support Grant was paid on 1 June 2023.

Budget 2024: once-off payment in November 2023

It was announced in Budget 2024 that people getting the Carer’s Support Grant, Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension or Blind Pension will get a once-off payment of €400.

You will get one payment only, even if you qualify for more than one of these payments or you are caring for more than one person.

People getting the Carer's Support Grant will get the payment on 30 November 2023.

Do I qualify for the once-off payment?

To qualify for the once-off payment, you must:

  • Have received or been eligible for the Carer’s Support Grant in 2023
  • Be providing full-time care on 27 November 2023

Rules for getting the Carer's Support Grant

The grant is paid automatically to people getting Carer’s Allowance (both full rate and half-rate), Carer’s Benefit or Domiciliary Care Allowance. If you are not getting one of these payments, you can still qualify for the Carer’s Support Grant.

The Carer’s Support Grant is not means tested.

To get the Carer’s Support Grant, you must be:

  • Aged 16 or over
  • Ordinarily resident in Ireland
  • Caring for the person on a full-time basis
  • Caring for the person for at least 6 months - this period must include the first Thursday in June
  • Living with the person being cared for (or if you do not live with them you must meet certain criteria, for example the person must be able to contact you quickly and directly)

During this 6 month caring period, you cannot:

If you are caring for more than one person, a grant is paid for each of them.

If your baby is kept in hospital or other institution to get medical treatment after their birth, you may qualify for the Carer’s Support Grant. To get the grant, your baby must have a disability that would qualify them for Domiciliary Care Allowance.

Rate of Carer's Support Grant

In June 2023, the Carer's Support Grant was €1,850.

It is paid once a year for each person you are caring for. It was paid on 1 June 2023.

It is not taxable.

How to apply

If you are getting Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit or Domiciliary Care Allowance, you do not need to apply for the Carer's Support Grant. It will be paid automatically paid to you in June.

If you are not getting one of the above payments, you should fill in an application form CSG 1 (pdf) for each person you are caring for.

When to apply

You can apply for a Carer's Support Grant for any given year from April of that year until 31 December of the following year.

For example:

You can apply for the Carer's Support Grant for 2023 at any time from April 2023 up until 31 December 2024. The grant rate for 2023 was €1,850.

Where to apply

Department of Social Protection

Carer's Support Grant Section

Government Buildings
Ballinalee Road
Longford
N39 E4EO

Tel: (043) 334 0000
Page edited: 27 November 2023