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| | There are a number of allowances for which parents/carers
of WS individuals may be eligible: (Updated January 2010)
 | Domiciliary Care Allowance
is paid by Health Service Executives in respect of disabled children under 16 years who
require care and attention which is considerably in excess of that normally
required by a child of the same age. Eligibility is determined primarily by
reference to the degree of care and attention required by the child rather
than to the type of handicap involved. The parents means are not taken
into account when assessing eligibility, but the child's means are
assessable.
|
At
present the payment is 309.50 per month.
Further
information from your local Health Service Executive.
| Carer's Benefit is a payment made by the Department of Social,
Community and Family Affairs to PRSI-insured persons who leave the workforce
to care for a person in need of full-time care and attention. Where a
Domiciliary Care Allowance is being paid by a Health Board in respect of a
child no medical certification is required. The payment is made for 65
weeks, which can be claimed in separate periods subject to a minimum of 6
weeks for any given period.
|
Payment
is currently 213.00 per week with increases for each child dependent.
Further information at www.welfare.ie ,your local Social Welfare Office, or Social
Welfare Services, Longford Ph: 043 - 45211.
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C Carer's Allowance is a means-tested payment made by the Department of Social, Community
and Family Affairs to carers on low incomes who live with and look after
certain people in need of full-time care and attention. If the person being
cared for is under 16 a Domiciliary Care Allowance must be in payment by a
Health Board in respect of this person.
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The full payment is currently 212.00 per week, with increases for each
child dependent.
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The
recipient of the allowance is entitled to a Free Travel Pass in his/her own
right, Free Telephone Rental Allowance, and may also qualify for Free
Electricity / Natural Gas / Bottled Gas Refill Allowance, Free Television
Licence and Medical Card.
Further
information at www.welfare.ie or your local Social Welfare Office
| Respite Care Grant
An annual grant of 1700 payable on the first Thursday in June to carers to
cover the cost of respite care. The payment can be used as the carer sees
fit. Those in receipt of a
Domiciliary Care Allowance, a Carer's Benefit or a Carer's Allowance
automatically receive this payment. If
the relevant allowance is not awarded till after June you should still be
entitled to the Respite Care Grant for that year, enquire at your local
Social Welfare Office.
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| Incapacitated Child Tax Credit
can be claimed by a parent/guardian for a child who is permanently
incapacitated, either physically or mentally, from maintaining himself or
herself.
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The
credit is currently 3660.
Further
information at www.revenue.ie/leaflets/it18.htm
or your tax office.
| Home
Carer's Tax Credit
is available to one-income families where one spouse stays at home to care
for dependent children, the aged or incapacitated persons. If the maximum
credit is to be obtained, the income of the home carer must not exceed
5,080 in the tax year.
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The
maximum credit is currently 900.
| Incapacitated Person - Credit for Employing a Carer
This tax credit may be claimed if you employ a person to care for an
incapacitated relative. It must be claimed annually.
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The credit is based on the cost of
employing the carer, the maximum cost allowable is currently 50,000 at
marginal tax rate.
Further
information at www.revenue.ie/leaflets/it47.pdf or
your tax office.
An individual with WS who is over 16 may be eligible
for:
| Disability Allowance
(formerly Disabled Persons Maintenance Allowance) A weekly allowance paid by
the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs to people with a
disability who are aged 16 or over and under age 66. The allowance is
subject to both a medical suitability and a means test. Persons for whom
Domiciliary Care Allowance is being claimed will automatically be invited to
claim Disability Allowance before reaching age 16.
|
At present the full payment is
196.00 per week.
Further details at www.welfare.ie,
your local Social Welfare Office, or Disability Allowance Section, Social
Welfare, Longford Ph: 043 45211 or 01 8748444
| Recipients
of the Disability Allowance automatically receive a Free Travel Pass
(and may qualify for a Companions Pass), and also qualify for a Medical
Card from their health board.
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COMHAIRLE,
the Government Agency responsible for the provision of information, advice
and advocacy to the members of the public on social services, has issued a
very informative book called ENTITLEMENTS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
It can be obtained free of charge from any of the Citizens Advice and Information Centres around the country, by simply phoning them directly on
1890 777 121 to have your copy posted to you or by emailing
information@citizensinformation.ie
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Williams Syndrome Association of Ireland 
