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 July 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. From July 2026 the income limit for a job you keep alongside it rose by €375 to €1,000 a week, so more working carers can now qualify.
Who can get it
- You give up work or reduce your hours to care for someone full-time
- You worked and paid PRSI for at least 8 weeks in the last 26 weeks (16 hours a week or 32 hours a fortnight), and meet the standard PRSI contribution conditions
- 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.
- 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 became a taxable payment from 1 January 2026 (it was not taxed before).
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 4 July 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.
Related guides
- Carer's Allowance
- Carer's Support Grant
- Fuel Allowance
- State Pension (Non-Contributory)
- Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds
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