Verified means test

Carer's Allowance estimate

An indicative 2026 personal-rate calculation for one person providing full-time care. The Department assesses the care need, residence, means and final rate.

Use weekly income after permitted deductions: employee PRSI, union dues and qualifying pension or retirement contributions. Do not subtract ordinary household bills.

Your circumstances

Answer each visible question. Blank and “not sure” answers do not count as zero or no. Editing any answer clears your confirmation and hides the previous estimate.

Is the carer aged 18 or over?Is the carer aged 66 or over?Has the full-time care need lasted, or is it expected to last, at least 12 months?Does the person need continual supervision or frequent help throughout the day?Has the Department confirmed that the habitual residence condition is satisfied?Does the carer have a spouse, civil partner or cohabiting partner?Combined weekly income after allowed deductions (€)Weekly hours in work, education or trainingCarer’s assessable capital (€)Are there maintenance, foreign payments, property income, transferred assets or other complex means?Does the carer receive another welfare payment or appear on someone else’s payment?Does the household have dependent children?Does the carer provide full-time care to more than one person?

I have reviewed and confirmed every answer and amount above. Show my indicative result.

Indicative personal rate

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Evidence and limits

Rule ca-2026.3 · effective 1 July 2026 · checked 2026-09-08. Income disregard: €1,000 single or €2,000 combined for a couple. Capital disregard: €50,000 for each assessed person, using half the couple's combined capital. The weekly income disregard applies after including capital-derived income. Maximum personal rate: €270 under 66 or €308 aged 66 and over.

Means-band rules checked 2026-09-20: the first €7.60 of assessed weekly means does not reduce payment; reductions then apply in €2.50 bands. A remainder below €2.50 is not payable. It excludes Child Support Payments, half-rate Carer's Allowance, the 50% increase for caring for more than one person and case-specific disregards.

Payment-band legislation Capital and couple-means legislation Official service page Operational guidelines Budget 2026 rates

Estimate only: A Department deciding officer makes the final means, care-need and entitlement decision. Do not delay an application because of this estimate.