S.I. No. 121/2003 - Social Welfare (Consolidated Payments Provisions) (Amendment) (Carers) Regulations, 2003

The Minister for Social and Family Affairs, in exercise of the powers conferred on her by sections 4 (as amended by section 12 of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2002 (No. 8 of 2002)) and 82B (3) (inserted by section 10 of the Social Welfare Act, 2000 (No. 4 of 2000)) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1993 (No. 27 of 1993) and Rule 4 (1B (inserted by section 12 of the Social Welfare Act, 1999 (No. 3 of 1999)) of Part II of the Third Schedule to the said Act hereby makes the following Regulations:

Citation.

1.   (1)  These Regulations may be cited as the Social Welfare (Consolidated Payments Provisions) (Amendment) (Carers) Regulations, 2003.

(2)   These Regulations and the Social Welfare (Consolidated Payments Provisions) Regulations 1994 to 2002 shall be construed together as one and may be cited as the Social Welfare (Consolidated Payments Provisions) Regulations, 1994 to 2003.

Commencement.

2.   These Regulations come into operation on 3 April, 2003.

Definitions.

3.    In these Regulations “the Principal Regulations” means the Social Welfare (Consolidated Payments Provisions) Regulations 1994 ( S.I. No. 417 of 1994 ).

Income from employment or self-employment.

4.    The Principal Regulations are amended —

(a)   in article 35E (inserted by article 4 of the Social Welfare (Consolidated Payments Provisions) (Amendment) (No. 13) (Carers) Regulations, 2000 ( S.I. No. 340 of 2000 )) by the substitution in sub-articles (2) and (3) of “Eur 150” for “£75”; and

(b)   in article 89 (2) (b) (amended by article 4 of the Social Welfare (Consolidated Payments Provisions) (Amendment) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations, 2002 ( S.I. No. 120 of 2002 )) by the substitution of “Eur 210” for “Eur 191” and “Eur 420” for “Eur 382”.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This Note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

Social Welfare legislation currently provides that a person in receipt of Carer's Benefit may engage in employment or self-employment outside the home, subject to a maximum of ten hours per week and an income ceiling of Eur 95.23. These Regulations increase the income ceiling to Eur 150 per week effective from 3 April, 2003.

These Regulations also provide for increases in the income disregarded for the purposes of Carer's Allowance. In the case of a single person, the increase is Eur 19 per week, bringing the total amount of the disregard to Eur 210. In the case of a married person, the disregard is increased by Eur 38 per week, a new total of Eur 420. These changes take effect from 3 April, 2003.