Carer's Support Grant Ireland 2026 — €1,850 Per Year, No Means Test
Carer's Support Grant in Ireland
The Carer's Support Grant pays €1,850 per year to carers — as a lump sum in June. There is no means test. You do not need to be receiving Carer's Allowance to qualify. If you care for more than one person, you receive €1,850 for each.
Carer's Support Grant — At a glance
- Annual payment
- €1,850 per care recipient
- Paid when
- June each year (lump sum)
- Means-tested
- No
- Caring for 2 people
- €3,700/year
- Taxable
- No
- Carer's Allowance required
- No
Key facts — Carer's Support Grant 2026
Who qualifies for the Carer's Support Grant?
You qualify if you meet all of the following conditions on the date in June when the grant is paid:
- You are providing full-time care to a person who needs it (due to illness, disability or age)
- You are aged 16 or over
- You are habitually resident in Ireland
- You are not employed, self-employed, or in education for more than 18.5 hours per week
- The person you care for is not living in a residential care facility for more than 13 weeks per year
Can I receive it alongside another welfare payment?
Yes. The Carer's Support Grant can be combined with many other social welfare payments, including:
- Carer's Allowance or Carer's Benefit (paid automatically)
- Jobseeker's Allowance (if you are also the primary carer)
- Disability Allowance
- State Pension (Contributory or Non-Contributory)
- One-Parent Family Payment
How to apply for the Carer's Support Grant
If you receive Carer's Allowance or Carer's Benefit: The grant is paid to you automatically each June. No application is needed.
If you do not receive Carer's Allowance: You must apply. Complete form CSG1, available from DSP offices or at gov.ie, and submit it before the June payment date.
- Download form CSG1
Available at gov.ie or your local Intreo Centre. The form asks about the care you provide and the person you care for.
- Include medical evidence
You will need a letter or report from the care recipient's GP or specialist confirming the need for full-time care.
- Submit before the June payment date
Applications received after June may be processed late. Submit early to ensure payment in June.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Carer's Support Grant?
An annual non-means-tested payment of €1,850 per care recipient, paid in June to people providing full-time care. You do not need to be receiving Carer's Allowance to qualify.
How much is it in 2026?
€1,850 per person you care for. Caring for two people means €3,700 per year, paid as one lump sum per recipient in June.
Is it means-tested?
No. The Carer's Support Grant is not means-tested. Income, savings and assets are not assessed. All qualifying carers receive the same €1,850.
I don't receive Carer's Allowance — can I still get it?
Yes. Many carers who fail the Carer's Allowance means test or work more than the hours allowed can still get the Carer's Support Grant by applying separately using form CSG1.
When is it paid?
In June each year as a lump sum. If you receive Carer's Allowance or Carer's Benefit, it is paid automatically. Otherwise, apply using form CSG1.
Can I receive it alongside State Pension?
Yes. The Carer's Support Grant can be received alongside State Pension, Disability Allowance, and most other social welfare payments, as long as you meet the caring and hours conditions.
- You do not need Carer's Allowance to qualify. Many carers who fail the Carer's Allowance means test can still receive the Grant by applying separately with form CSG1.
- If you ARE on Carer's Allowance or Carer's Benefit, the grant is paid automatically in June — you do not need to apply. If you are not on these payments, you must apply.
- You receive €1,850 per care recipient — not one flat payment per carer. Caring for two people means €3,700 in June.
- The grant is not taxable — unlike some other welfare payments, you do not owe Income Tax on it.
- Eligibility is assessed on the date the grant is paid in June. If you stop caring before June, or start caring after June, you may not receive it for that year.
- The grant cannot be received if the person you care for is in residential care for more than 13 weeks per year. Short hospital stays under 13 weeks do not affect it.
This page was reviewed against official Irish government guidance and updated to reflect 2026 Carer's Support Grant rates and eligibility rules.