What is the Respite Care Grant?
To Qualify for the Respite Care Grant
Rates
How to apply

The Respite Care Grant is a cash payment made to carers and operated by the Department of Social and Family Affairs. The grant may be used to pay for respite care for the person you are caring for however, it is not necessary to do so. Carers can use this grant in whatever way they choose.

The grant is paid by the Department of Social and Family Affairs in June of each year. In previous years it was paid to those in receipt of Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit, Constant Attendance Allowance or Prescribed Relative's Allowance. However, since June 2005 you do not have to be receiving a payment for caring in order to qualify for the Respite Care Grant. If you are caring for more than one person, a grant is paid for each of them. The Health Service Executive is responsible for payment of the Respite Care Grant to people getting Domiciliary Care Allowance and no other payment. (Domiciliary Care Allowance is a payment made to the carer of a child with a severe disability who lives at home).

Qualifying Rules
The Respite Care Grant is paid to those in receipt of one of the payments mentioned above as well as certain other carers providing full-time care. If you are not receiving one of the above payments, you must be:

• aged 16 or over
• ordinarily resident in the State
• caring for the person on a full-time basis
• caring for the person for at least six months - this period must include the first Thursday in June
• Living with the person being cared for or, if not, is contactable quickly by a direct system of communication (for example, telephone or alarm).

You do not qualify if you are working more than 15 hours per week outside the home, if you are getting an unemployment payment or if you are signing on for unemployment credits. You do not qualify if you are living in a hospital, convalescent home or similar institution.

Rates
A Respite Care Grant of €1,700 (since June 2008) is paid for each person you are caring for. This payment is not taxable.

How to Apply
If you are in receipt of Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit, Constant Attendance Allowance or Prescribed Relatives Allowance you do not need to apply for the Respite Care Grant. It will be automatically paid to you in June each year.

If you are not in receipt of one of the above payments you should complete the application form for the Respite Care Grant RCG1 or a Respite Care Grant RCG (a) form if you are caring for more than one person. Application forms are available from your local Social Welfare Office or Citizens information Centre or from the Department of Social Welfare's Lo-Call Leaflet request line 1890 20 23 25.

For more information, contact your local Social Welfare Office. You can get information on Social Welfare Services on the Internet at www.welfare.ie