Inclusion, Equality and Social Welfare

The Carer’s Grant was introduced as from the 1st January 2021 as per budget measures. This grant is awarded to a parent who is not in employment so as to take care of a child or children with a disability who are over sixteen (16) years of age and in receipt of an Increased Severe Disability Assistance. The 2025 Budget introduced changes to this Grant, to cater for parents who are not in employment so as to take care of a child or children with a severe disability under sixteen (16) years of age and in receipt of the Disability Child Allowance.

As from the year 2026, the Carer’s Grant will increase to five thousand and three hundred and sixty-nine euro (€5,369) per year. Such a payment will be divided in four (4) payments and paid at the rate of one thousand and three hundred and forty-two euro and twenty-five cents (€1,342.25) every three (3) months. The Carer’s Grant is awarded to a parent  who is not in a gainful employment, to stay at home to take care of a child/children with a disability who is/are in receipt of an Increased Severe Disability Assistance or the Disability Child Allowance who obtained a percentage of 75% or over, after being examined by the Inter-Professional Board by means of the ICF (children and youth) framework.
 

Please click here for a Schedule of Benefits Payment dates.

• The parent must not be in employment and lives in the same household of the child or children with a disability over sixteen (16) years of age and in receipt of an Increased Severe Disability Assistance,

  
  or 
   

  The parent must not be in employment and lives in the same household of the child or children with a disability under sixteen (16) years of age and in receipt of a Disability Child Allowance and having obtained  a percentage  of 75% or over after being examined by the Inter-Professional Board by means of the ICF (Children and Youth) framework.

   

• Upon reaching pensionable age, the eligible parent will continue receiving the Carer’s Grant as long as the child/children are still living with them even in cases were such parent is awarded a retirement pension.

   

• The parent must not be in receipt of an Increased Carers Allowance, Carers Allowance or an Increased Severe Disability Assistance.

   

• If the parent who meets the already mentioned criteria and is in receipt of Increased Severe Disability Assistance on his or her behalf will not be eligible for this Grant.

   

• If the parent who meets the criteria already mentioned and is a patient of Increased Carer's Allowance or Carer's Allowance is not eligible for this Grant.

   

• In case the child or children in receipt of Increased Severe Disability Assistance and a relative is receiving Increased Carer's Allowance or Carer's Allowance because he/she is caring for the child or children, the parent is not eligible for the Carer's Grant.

Documentation required

• No documentation is required. 

The process for the payment of  the Carer’s Grant is triggered automatically by the Department for Social Security in those cases when a parent is not in employment and lives in the same household of the child or children with a disability over sixteen (16) years of age and in receipt of Increased Severe Disability Assistance.
 

Unemployed parents of children who are under sixteen (16) years of age who have been in receipt of the Disability Child Allowance prior to July 2025 and have not been examined by the Inter-Professional Board, need to visit their Medical Practitioner / Treating Specialist / Pediatrician to submit a new Disability Child Allowance application on behalf of the child / children so that the child/children will be examined by the Inter-Professional Board. Should the outcome by the ICF (Children and Youth) results in 75% or over, the Carer’s Grant is triggered automatically by the Department to the parent. Click here to read more.