Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 section 100

Entitlement to benefit

Section 100 sets out the conditions for entitlement to carer's benefit, a social insurance payment for people who leave work to care for someone.

• The claimant must have worked at least 16 hours per week for a minimum of 8 weeks in the relevant period, either as an employee or self-employed person, and must satisfy PRSI contribution conditions.
• While receiving carer's benefit, the claimant must not engage in employment, self-employment, or any education or training course, though the Minister may make regulations permitting limited work or study.
• Claimants who were already receiving carer's benefit within the relevant period are exempt from both the prior employment requirement and the contribution conditions.
• Special provisions allow periods of prescribed leave to be disregarded when assessing whether the claimant meets the employment history requirement.