Carer's Benefit
€271 a week if you are caring for one person, or €406.50 a week for two or more, paid for up to 104 weeks for each person you care for. Based on your PRSI record, not means tested.
Last checked October 2026
What it is
A PRSI-based payment if you leave work or cut your hours to care for someone full-time, for up to 2 years. Since July 2026 the income limit for a job you keep alongside it has been €1,000 a week (up €375), so more working carers can qualify. Budget 2027: the maximum weekly rate rises to €281 from January 2027.
Who can get it
- You give up work or reduce your hours to care for someone full-time
- You worked (employed or self-employed) for at least 8 of the last 26 weeks, at 16 hours a week or 32 hours a fortnight. You do not need this if you got Carer's Benefit in the last 26 weeks
- On a first claim you need at least 156 PRSI contributions paid since you started work. You also need 39 paid in the relevant tax year (for a claim in 2026, that is 2024) or 39 paid in the 12 months before your claim starts. Failing that, 26 paid in the relevant tax year and 26 in the tax year before it also counts. Class S (self-employed) contributions count since January 2025. On a later claim you do not have to meet these contribution conditions again
- You are not working, studying, training or doing voluntary work for more than 18.5 hours a week combined. You must also show the person you care for has adequate care while you are out
- The person you care for needs full-time care and attention
- Not means tested, it's based on your PRSI record rather than your income or savings.
- Like Carer's Allowance, you cannot work, study or train for more than 18.5 hours a week while getting it.
- Paid for up to 104 weeks (2 years) for each person you care for, and you can take it in one block or several shorter ones.
- You can keep a job alongside it if your income after tax stays under the limit, which rose from €625 to €1,000 a week from July 2026.
- Caring for two or more people at once pays €406.50 a week instead of €271.
- Carer's Benefit is taxable income. Since 1 January 2026 it has been included on the list of taxable payments information the Department gives to Revenue. If you file a tax return, you must still include it.
- You cannot get Carer's Benefit with another social welfare payment, apart from Child Benefit and Disablement Benefit.
- If the person you care for dies, Carer's Benefit continues for 6 weeks. That is shorter than the 12 weeks on Carer's Allowance.
How to apply
Applications go through DSP. The official page has the full eligibility rules and the application itself.
Go to the official page →Checked against the official source on 7 October 2026. Always confirm the details on the official page before applying.
Questions people ask
How much is Carer's Benefit in 2026?
€271 a week for caring for one person, or €406.50 a week for two or more people, for up to 104 weeks for each person cared for.
Can I work while getting Carer's Benefit?
Yes, as long as your income after tax from that work stays under the limit, which rose from €625 to €1,000 a week from July 2026.
Is Carer's Benefit means tested?
No. It is based on your PRSI contributions, not your income or savings, unlike Carer's Allowance.
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