Guide to Entitlements and Supports For

Guide to Entitlements and Supports for Children and their Parents 2016

Contents

Compiled by Aoife Timothy 2016

1 Introduction

Welcome to the CRC. This booklet provides basic information about the supports available to parents and to their children. We have included the schemes that we know parents use to support them in their care.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information included; updates will be made available on the CRC website.

If you have a specific question or are unsure about any of the information your Social Worker is available to go through the information and support you.

Geraldine Prunty, Principal Social Worker 2016

2 1 Financial Supports

1.1 Child Benefit Children with a disability are entitled to the usual children’s allowances. The Department of Social Protection pays Child Benefit to parents for each child living with them and being supported by them. The payment is monthly and is not means tested.

You will qualify if your child is: -normally living with and being supported by you -is under the age of 16 -or aged 16, 17 and in fulltime education or is aged 16, 17 with a disability. Number Of Children Monthly Rate 2016 1 Child €140 2 Children €280 3 Children €420 4 Children €560 The rate is €140 per child. For twin children and other multiple births special rates apply:  For twin children child benefit is 1.5 times the appropriate for each child.  Where the multiple births involve three or more children, the rate of benefit paid is double the appropriate monthly rate.

Application forms are available from your local Post Office or Child Benefit Information LoCall 1890 400 400, http://www.welfare.ie

3 1.2 Domiciliary Care Allowance This is a monthly payment from the Department of Social Protection to the parent or carer of a child with a disability. To qualify the child must need substantially more care and supervision than other children of the same age. The allowance is in recognition of the additional care and attention needed to care for child with a disability.

Parent’s income is not taken into account however any income the child may have is taken into account e.g. money from a compensation settlement. The allowance is available from birth up to 16 years. The allowance is payable from the date of application. The payment is €309.50 per month plus an annual Carer’s Support Grant of €1,700 (June, 2016).

To see if your child qualifies, you and your child’s doctor need to complete the application form. Application forms are available from Social Work CRC or from Domiciliary Care Allowance, Department of Social Protection, College Road, Sligo, Tel. (071) 915 7100, Locall 1890 500 000 or www.welfare.ie

1.3 Carers Allowance This is a weekly payment to carers who look after a child or an adult in need of fulltime care and attention. It is a means-tested payment and there is a medical assessment. If your child currently receives the Domiciliary Care Allowance it is viewed that you already meet the medical assessment criteria.

The amount of an applicant’s weekly income that is not counted as means for Carer's Allowance means test is €332.50 for a single person and €665 for a couple (2016).

If you care for more than one person you may be entitled to up to 50% extra of the maximum rate of Carer’s Allowance each week. There is also an additional payment for carers who themselves are aged 66 years or over.

You will qualify if you the Carer meet the following requirements:

 Are aged 18 or over  Satisfy the means test  Are caring for the person(s) on a full-time basis  Be living with the person you are looking after, or be in a position to provide full time care and attention to a person who is not living with you  Are not employed or self-employed outside the home in excess of 15 hours per week

4  Satisfy the Habitual Residence Condition

& If the person you are Caring for:  Must require full-time care and attention because of his/her disability (medical certification is required).  However where Domiciliary Care Allowance is being paid no medical certification is required.

You may also claim an additional payment for each of your children. The maximum weekly payment is €204 with a Qualified Child Payment €29.80 per week per child (2016).

Application forms are available for download from www.welfare.ie, or from your local Citizen Information Office or Social Welfare Office or call LoCall Leaflet Request Line on 1890 20 23 25, or from the Carer’s Allowance Section, Government Buildings, Ballinalee Road, Longford, Tel. 043 45211/ 01 7043000.

1.4 Half Rate Carers Allowance If you are a full-time carer and are getting certain social welfare payment e.g. One Parent Family Payment/State pension or you are a Qualified Adult on your spouse’s or partner’s payment you may keep your current social welfare payment and receive a half rate Carers Allowance.

The exception to this is if you are in receipt of a Jobseekers Benefit/ Allowance. However if you are a qualified adult on your partner’s or spouse’s Jobseekers Allowance/ Benefit you can qualify for the half rate Carer’s Allowance.

To qualify you and the person you are caring for must satisfy the conditions of caring as outlined for the Carer’s Allowance. The weekly payment is €102 (2016).

Application forms are available for download from www.welfare.ie, from your local Citizen Information Office or Social Welfare Office or call LoCall Leaflet Request Line on 1890 20 23 25, or from the Carer’s Allowance Section, Government Buildings, Ballinalee Road, Longford, Tel. 043 45211/ 01 7043000.

1.5 Household Benefits Package All people receiving a Carer’s Allowance are entitled to apply for the Household Benefits Package. To qualify the carer must be living with the person they are caring for.

5 The package includes: . €35 per month Electricity/ Natural Gas/ Bottled Gas Refill Allowance & . A Free Television Licence Application form HB1 can be downloaded from www.welfare.ie, or from your local Citizen Information Office or Social Welfare Office or call LoCall Leaflet Request Line on 1890 20 23 25. Household Benefits Package, Department of Social Protection, College Road, Sligo.

1.6 Carers Benefit If you leave the workforce to care for a person(s) in need of full-time care and attention, you may qualify for a weekly Carer's Benefit payment based on your own P.R.S.I. contributions. This is a short-term scheme payable up to a maximum of 2 years. You can claim it for a continuous period of 2 years or in separate periods adding up to 2 years.

You will qualify if you the Carer:  have been employed for 8 weeks during the previous 26 weeks,  have enough PRSI contributions  give up employment to care for a person on a full-time basis (this employment must have been for a minimum of 16 hours per week or 32 hours per fortnight)  are not employed or self-employed outside the home for more than 15 hours a week.

The person(s) you are caring for: . Must require full-time care and attention because of his/her disability (medical certification is required). . However where Domiciliary Care Allowance is being paid no medical certification is required.

The weekly rate of payment when caring for one person is €205 (2016) per week. You may also claim an additional payment of €29.80 per week for each of your children.

Further information and application form ‘CARB1’are available for download from www.welfare.ie, your local Social Welfare or Citizen Information Centre. Carer's Benefit Section, Government Building, Ballinalee Road, Longford, Telephone (043) 334 0000, LoCall 1890 92 77 70.

6 1.7 Carer’s Support Grant

The Carer’s Support Grant is an annual payment of €1,700 to carers who look after people in need of full-time care and attention.

If you are caring and not in receipt of one of the above payments you may apply. The payment is made regardless of the carer’s means but is subject to certain conditions.

You will qualify if you the carer: . are aged 16 or over /are ordinarily resident in the State/care for the person on a full-time basis, . care for the person for at least six months - this period of care must include the first Thursday in June, . live with the person you are looking after or can be contacted quickly by a direct system of communication (for example, a telephone or alarm) between your home and the home of the person you are caring for.

Also, the person you are caring for must: . Be incapacitated as to need full-time care and attention (medical certification is required), for at least six months. . Not normally live in a hospital, convalescent home or other similar institution or not receive full-time care and attention within their home from another person.

You will not qualify if you the carer are: . working outside the home for more than 15 hours a week, or . getting or are entitled to Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker's Allowance or signing for Jobseeker Credits

From June 2016, the Carer’s Support Grant is €1,700 for each person you are caring for. It is paid once a year by cheque. Carers who are looking after more than one person receive double the amount.

Application forms ‘RCG1’ are available for download from www.welfare.ie, from your local Citizen Information Office or Social Welfare Office or call LoCall Leaflet Request Line on 1890 20 23 25, Carer’s Support Grant Section, PO Box 10085, Dublin 2, Tel. 01 673 2222.

7 1.8 Free Preschool Year The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Scheme provides for a free pre-school year for children for the year before they start in primary school.

If your child has been assessed as having a disability and would benefit from attending pre-school for 2/3 days a week rather than 5 days each week, they can be allowed to spread their free pre-school year over a 2-year period. For example, a child with special needs may attend a pre-school service for 2 days per week in the first year and 3 days per week in the subsequent year.

To request a spreading of the ECCE year over a 2-year period for a child with a disability, write to the Department by the July the year you child will start in preschool. Enclose a recent and detailed assessment report from the HSE/CRC or where this is not available an assessment report from the treating consultant, not GP, will be accepted.

Free Pre-School Year Children must have been born between the following dates (both dates inclusive) September 2016 –June 2017 1st of January 2012- 31st of August 2013 January 2017 –June 2017 1st of January 2012 -31st of December 2013

April 2017 – June 2017 1st of January 2012 -31st of March 2014

To avail of the ECCE Scheme your child must be aged between 3 years and 2 month and 4 years 6 months on 1st September of the year that they will be starting.

From September 2016, the ECCE scheme will be extended to children aged between 3 years and 5 years 6 months, or until they start primary school. This increases the number of weeks available on the ECCE scheme. Children will be able to enroll in pre-school at 3 different points in the year (September, January and April) in order to access the scheme.

The state pays the child care provider directly. To get a place for your child, apply to a participating playschool or daycare centre. For more information contact Childcare Directorate, Department of Children and Youth Affairs, 43-49 Mespil Road, Dublin 4, Tel:(01) 647 3000, www.dcya.ie/ECCE, Email [email protected] or see www.citizensinfromation.ie

8 1.9 Disability Allowance This is a weekly allowance paid to people with a disability who are aged 16 and over and under the age of 66. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to both medical suitability and a means test. For families that receive the Domiciliary Care Allowance, this payment stops when your child reaches the age of 16 and the Disability Allowance is paid to the child in his/her own right.

Disability Allowance 2016 Personal Rate €188.00 Qualified Adult €124.80 Qualified Child Full Rate €29.80 Qualified Child Half Rate €14.90

Application forms for the Disability Allowance are available from the Social Work Department, CRC and the Disability Allowance Section, Government Buildings, Ballinalee Road, Longford, Tel. 01 7043948/ 043 45211.

2 Travel

2.1 Public transport - Free Travel Everyone awarded the Carers Allowance or the Disability Allowance is entitled to a Free Travel Pass. With this pass you can travel for free on all public transport e.g. Trains, Dublin Bus, Dart, Luas and on a limited number of private transport companies. Free Travel is also available on Cross-Border bus and rail journeys between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. If you are in receipt of the Disability Allowance and have a Free Travel Pass you are entitled to a Free Travel Pass that allows your partner to accompany you free of charge when travelling. This does not apply to people under age 66 who are getting a Carer's Allowance.

In addition, some people who are unable to use the pass because they are unable to travel alone may get a Companion Free Travel Pass. This allows the holder to be accompanied by any person over 16 years of age, free of charge.

9 Application forms ‘FT1’for Free Travel are available for download on www.welfare.ie from Free Travel Section, Pension Services Office, College Road, Sligo LoCall1890 500 000 or LoCall Leaflet Line 1890 20 23 25 or from your Local Citizens Information Centre or Social Welfare Office.

2.2 Car -Disabled Drivers & Disabled Passengers Scheme

This scheme from Revenue is to help with the costs involved in buying and adapting a car for the use of a person with a disability or to transport a person with a disability. To qualify for the scheme the person with the disability (adult or child) must hold a Primary Medical Certificate. The car can be new or secondhand but must have an Adaptation to qualify

Benefits  An exemption or claim back the VAT on the car, the VRT on the car and the VAT on the adaption up to a total maximum of €15,875 for a disabled passenger or €9,525 for a disabled driver.  Exemption from Road Tax.  You can claim back excise duty on fuel used in the vehicle to transport the person with a disability up to a maximum of 2,728 litres a year.  Exemption on toll road fees.

Further terms and conditions apply and for more detailed information and application forms please see VRT7 booklet on www.revenue.ie or contact Revenue Commissioners, Central Repayments Office, Freepost M: TEK II Building, Monaghan, Telephone LoCall: 1890 60 60 61 or 047 62100.

2.3 Primary Medical Certificate is a certificate issued by the HSE that certifies the extent and permanent nature of a disability. To qualify for the Cert. there are specific medical criteria. For further information and an application form please contact your Local HSE Health Centre.

2.4 Disabled Parking The EU Disabled Person’s Parking Permit is issued by either Disabled Drivers Association or The Irish Wheelchair Association. By displaying the EU Disabled Person’s Parking Permit or Card on your windscreen you are entitled to park in the disabled person’s parking spaces. If your child has a Primary Medical Cert or is Registered Blind you are eligible for the Permit. If

10 you do not have a Primary Medical Certificate you can still apply and will be assessed on medical suitability. There is an application form and fee for the Permit. For further information please contact Disabled Drivers Association, Ballindine, Claremorris, Co. Mayo, Tel. 094 936 4054 / 094 936 4266, email [email protected] or the Irish Wheelchair Association, Ballinagappa Rd, Clane, Co Kildare, Tel. 045 893094. 2.5 Disabled Drivers and Road Tolls Specially adapted vehicles driven by disabled persons are exempt from tolls on each toll road in the state. Toll road operators currently issue special passes to facilitate such exempt passage. Passes issued by any one operator will be accepted by all other toll road operators.

For more information please contact the National Roads Authority on 01 6602511 , [email protected] or your local toll operator. 2.6 Mobility Allowance & Motorised Transport Grant Both schemes are now closed to new applicants and are being reviewed with a view to an alternative support replacing them.

3 Health Costs

3.1 Medical Card The Health Services Executive (HSE) administers and provides medical cards. Medical Card holders are entitled to a range of health services free of charge. These include doctors, hospital services and prescribed equipment. Medical card holders are charged €2.50 per item dispensed by your pharmacists with a maximum charge of €25 a month per family.

Most people have to have means below a certain limit in order to qualify. Your income after Tax, USC and PRSI deductions is assessed. Deductions are also made for your rent or mortgage costs, childcare expenses and travel to work expenses. You are also given an allowance for each of your dependent children. This allowance is then deducted from your income for the purposes of assessment of your means. Persons with an income such as the One-Parent Family Payment, Carers Allowance, amongst others are regarded as being eligible for a medical card.

Application forms and full guidelines are available from your HSE Health Centre, HSE Infoline 1850 241 850, from the Social Work Dept. CRC or on www.medicalcard.ie

11 3.2 GP Visit Card A GP Visit Card entitles you to visit your Family Doctor free of charge. It is administered by the HSE and is means tested. The income guidelines for GP visit card are higher than for the Medical Card. It does not cover the cost of prescribed drugs, medicines and other health services.

Anyone can apply for a GP Visit Card - families, single people, including those working full time. In order to apply for a GP Visit Card, you must be ordinarily resident in Ireland.

To apply for a GP Visit Card, use the same application form as the Medical Card. While your GP Visit Card application is being processed, the HSE will also assess your entitlement for a full medical card.

Application forms and full guidelines are available from your HSE Health Centre, HSE Infoline 1850 241 850, from the Social Work Dept. CRC or on www.medicalcard.ie

3.3 HSE Income Guidelines for Medical and GP Visit Cards To qualify, you can have a weekly income up to the amount listed below after income tax and PRSI, USC deductions and other relevant expenses are taken into account.

2016 Medical Card GP Visit card (Weekly income less deduction and relevant Rate per week Rate per week expenses) Single person living alone aged up to 65 years €184 €276 Single person living with family aged up to 65 years €164 €246 Married couple & Single parent families with €266.50 €400 dependent children aged up to 65 years DEDUCTIONS For first 2 children under 16 financially dependant on €38 €57 applicant For 3rd and subsequent children under 16 financially €41 €61.50 dependant on applicant For first 2 children over 16 financially dependant on €39 €64.00 applicant For 3rd and subsequent children over 16 financially €42 dependant on applicant For a dependant over 16 years who is in full time 3rd €76 level education not grant aided

To qualify your family’s weekly income is assessed. Any income tax, PRSI and Universal Social Charge you pay is deducted from your weekly income

12 for the purpose of the assessment. Deductions are also made for your rent or mortgage costs, childcare expenses and travel to work expenses. Applicants whose sole weekly income is from Social Welfare or HSE payments but whose income is in excess of the Financial Guidelines will be granted Medical Cards.

3.4 GP Visit Card for Children Under 6

All children under 6 who live in Ireland for are eligible. The card covers free visit for your child’s GP doctor, including home visits and out of hours, urgent GP care. If your child already has a medical card, there is no need to register them for inclusion in this scheme while they continue to be eligible for a medical card. However if your family circumstances change in the future and your family is no longer eligible for medical cards, you can then register your children for GP visit cards for children under 6 . You can apply on line at gpvisitcard.ie or contact your GP for further information.

3.5 Long Term Illness & Disability Scheme If your child has certain long term illnesses or disabilities, you may apply to join the Long Term Illness Scheme and you will be supplied with a Long Term Illness book by the HSE. This book allows you to get drugs, medicines, medical devices and appliances directly related to the treatment of your child’s disability free of charge. It does not cover GP costs. It does not depend on your income and is separate from the Medical Card Scheme and the GP Visit Card Scheme and is dependent on your doctor confirming that your child has one of the following conditions:

13 If you child is prescribe a new drug/treatment this will need to be added to your child’s card before your pharmacy can supply it. Contact your local LTI office for more information. Application forms are available from your Health Services Executive (HSE), Local Health Office, HSE Infoline 1850 241 850 http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/1/schemes/lti/aprovmed/ and from the Social Work Dept. CRC.

3.6 Drugs Payment Scheme Under the Drugs Payment Scheme an individual or family has to pay a maximum monthly amount, currently €144, for all approved prescribed drugs, medicines and appliances for use by that person and their family in that month.

The family includes the nominated adult, his or her spouse/partner, children under 18 years or under 23 years in full time education and persons regardless of their age, with a disability or illness living in the household who are unable to fully maintain themselves.

Registration forms for the scheme are available from your Pharmacy or Health Services Executive (HSE), Local Health Office, HSE Infoline 1850 241 850.

3.7 Health & Medical Expenses Relief (MED 1 & 2) Most of us have medical bills. Some of these bills are covered by health insurance or by the HSE, some are not. Most medical bills and prescription charges you pay can be claimed Health Expenses Relief available at the standard rate of 20% (2016). For nursing home expenses tax relief is available at your highest rate of tax. You may claim tax relief for expenses incurred by yourself and for your spouse, civil partner and for your dependent child or a dependent relative. You can apply online through Revenue’s online service ROS or complete an application form MED1and Revenue will then send you a refund. Most medical expenses, with the exception of routine dental and ophthalmic treatments qualify for relief.

Expenses include:  Costs of doctor and consultant visits  Certain items prescribed by a doctor or consultant  Cost of Speech and Language Therapy for a qualifying child  Cost of Educational Psychological Assessment for a qualifying child  Transport by ambulance  Specialised dental treatment  Kidney patient’s expenses

14 Where prescribed by a doctor includes:  Drugs and medicines  Diagnostic procedures  Orthoptic or similar treatments  Hearing Aid  Orthopaedic bed/chair  Wheelchair/Wheelchair lift  Engaging a qualified nurse in the case of a serious illness  Physiotherapy or similar treatment  Cost of a computer where it is necessary to alleviate communication problems of a severely disabled person  Cost of gluten free foods for coeliacs  Glucometer machine for a diabetic

Also if your child has a permanent disability or is a cancer (oncology) patient, you may claim tax relief on the following under the heading of health expenses:  Telephone – If a child is treated at home, you may claim a flat rate of €315 for telephone rental and calls where the expenses are directly connected with the treatment of the child.  Hygiene products – If you have to use gloves or aprons for your child’s care, you can claim up to €500 per year.  T ravel – If you use a private car, the cost of travel can be claimed at €0.36 per mile or €0.23 per kilometre. No relief is available for car parking fees. Hold on to evidence of hospital visits, for example your child’s appointment card.  Overnight accommodation – You can claim for payments made for overnight stays in a hospital, hotel or bed and breakfast near the hospital where your child is a patient, if such an overnight stay by you is necessary for the treatment of the child.

To apply you need to complete a form ‘Med 1’. Full details and application forms available from the Revenue Information Dublin Region 1890 33 34 25, East & South East Region 1890 44 44 25, Home page www.revenue.ie

3.8 Diet Supplement From the 1st of February 2014 the diet supplement scheme is closed to new applicants. If you were getting the Diet supplement before the 1st of February 2016 you will continue to get the payment. The diets covered are:

Diet Adult Rate * Child Rate 2016 2016

15 Low Lactose, Milk Free €65.43 €3.50 Gluten Free €68.43 €6.50 High Protein, High Calorie €71.43 €9.50 Altered Consistence (liquidised) €74.93 €13.00 * less a proportion of the applicant's weekly income

Further information is available from your Community Welfare Officer based in your local HSE, Health Centre or http://www.welfare.ie/en/pressoffice/Pages/pr310114.aspx#

3. 9 Heating Supplement The heating supplement is an addition weekly payment from the Department of Social Protection to help with the costs of heating your home. You may get a heating supplement if;  You can show you have extra heating needs because of your age, medical condition or disability  Are living alone or only with dependent children  Satisfy a means test There is no fixed rate for heating supplement. There are application forms to complete. The amount you get is based on your needs as assessed by your Department Representitive (Community welfare office).

3.1.1 Supply of Nappies Scheme In general terms the scheme provides a limited supply of nappies free of charge, to children aged 3 years and upward with disabilities that require nappies. To see if your child can avail of this scheme contact your Public Health Nurse. Certain conditions apply, your local Public Health Nurse will meet with you to discuss further.

Your Public Health Nurse can be contacted at your Local Health Services Executive (HSE), Local Health Office, HSE Infoline 1850 241 850.

4 Employment: Taking time off

4.1 Carers Leave All eligible Carers have the right to temporarily leave their job to care for a person who needs full time care, while having their job protected. Employers cannot refuse this leave. The minimum period of leave is 13 weeks and the maximum period is 104 weeks.

To be eligible for Carer’s leave the Carer must: -

16  Have completed 12 months continuous employment with the employer from whom the leave is sought  Provide full time care to the cared for person  Not work or take part in education/training for more than 15 hours per week  Satisfy the medical criteria set out by the Department of Social Protection (similar to that of Domiciliary Care Allowance and Carers Allowance / Benefit)

To apply you must write to your employer 6 weeks before you intend to take the leave. In exceptional circumstances where this is not possible the notice must be given as soon as is reasonably possible. You can apply for Carer’s Benefit while on Carers Leave.

More detailed information is available from www.workplacerelations.ie, Workplace Relations, Customer Service, Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation can be contacted on LoCall1890 80 80 90 or www.citizeninformation.ie

4.2 Carers and PRSI Contributions a) Credited PRSI Contributions - Credits are free PRSI contributions that are awarded under various circumstances. These credits may help you qualify for pensions or payment under the PRSI scheme, such as the Contributory Old Age Pension. Credited contributions may be awarded to eligible carers receiving Carers Allowance and Carers Benefit. These credits are granted when the caring period ends. If you are on Carers Leave but do not get Carers Benefit, you are still entitled to get credits. You should ask your employer to complete the application form for Carers Leave Credits (pdf). This will make sure that your existing cover for social welfare is fully maintained

If you are not eligible for ‘credits’ you may be entitled to the ‘Homemakers Years’.

b) Homemakers Years - If you are caring full-time for a child/ children up to 12 years, a child over 12 years with a disability or an adult who needs full-time care or attention you may be awarded PRSI credits. These credits help you to qualify for pensions or payment under the PRSI scheme such as the Contributory Old Age Pension.

To apply you will need to complete form ‘HM1’ available to download from www.welfare.ie. Further information available Homemaker's Scheme Section, Department of Social Protection, McCarter's Road,

17 Ardaravan, Buncrana, Donegal, Tel.(01) 471 5898, LoCall 1890 690 690.

4.3 Parental Leave

Parental leave gives parents, both mothers and fathers a legal entitlement to take up to 18 weeks unpaid leave from work to care for their child. Each parent may take up to 18 weeks unpaid parental leave for each of their children. The leave must be taken before the child is 8 years of age (13 years for many public and civil servants) or 16 years of age in the case of children with disabilities. You must notify your employer 6 weeks in advance of your intention to take parental leave. The leave may be broken up with the agreement of the employer. Further conditions apply regarding when and how the leave is taken. For further information contact your employer or ww.citizensinformation.ie

4.4 Force Majeure Leave If you are unable to be at your place of work because of a family emergency you may qualify for Force Majeure. An employee is entitled to leave with pay from his or her employment for urgent family reasons, owing to the injury or illness of any of the persons listed below.  your child  your spouse/civil partner or partner with whom you are living with  a person to whom to you are acting in loco parentis to  your brother or sister  your parent or grandparent An employee may not be absent on force majeure leave for more than 3 days in any 12 consecutive months, or 5 days in any 36 consecutive months.

4.5 Paternity leave Statutory paternity leave of 2 weeks is to be introduced, together with a new Paternity Benefit, in respect of births from September 2016.

5 Tax Breaks

18 5.1 Incapacitated Child Tax Credit This is a tax credit of €3,300 (2016) available to a parent/guardian of a child with a permanent disability. The parent’s income level does not affect the entitlement to claim. To claim you will need to complete an application form. A letter from your child’s doctor may also be required. A claim form and further information is available at www.revenue.ie or from your child’s social worker.

5.2 Home Carer Tax Credit A tax credit of €1000 (2016) is available to married couples and civil partners where one of the couple cares for one or more dependants. The couple must be jointly assessed for tax.. The stay at home spouse or civil partner can earn up to €7,200 a year and claim the full allowance. This credit applies where the home carer is caring for:  a child/ren  or a person who is permanently disabled  or a person over 65 yrs  & where their spouse/partner is working outside the home.

Further information and claim form are available from www.revenue.ie, information leaflet ‘IT66 Information for Home Carer Tax Credit’. Revenue Dublin Region, LoCall 189033425, East and South East region LoCall 1890444425.

5.3 Employing a Carer A tax credit can be claimed at an individual's highest tax rate for the cost of employing a person to care for a family member who is disabled.

The allowance can be claimed by:  the disabled taxpayer  or their spouse or civil partner  or by one or more of the family members of the person being cared for.

Further information is available on the Revenue website www.revenue.ie . There is an information form ‘IT 47- Person Taking Care of an Incapacitated Individual’ and an application form ‘HK1-Claim for an Allowance for Employing a Carer’. Revenue Dublin Region, LoCall 1890 33 425, East and South East region LoCall 1890 444 425.

5.4 Local Property Tax Exemptions

19 If your home was bought, built or adapted to make it suitable for the needs of a person with permanent disability you may be exempt from the Local Property Tax. The person with the disability must be incapacitated to such an extent that they are unable to maintain themselves by earning an income from working and their condition is so severe that it dictates the type of property that they can live in. If you have adapted your home the exemption will only apply where the cost of the adaptations exceeds 25% of the market value of the property before it is adapted.

If you do not qualify for an exemption you may qualify for reduction in the ‘chargeable value of the property’ if the adaptions carried out to your home increased the estimated market value of your home and push the value your property into a higher valuation band.

The Revenue has details guidelines on their website http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/lpt/extension-reliefs-disabled You will need to complete the relevant application form. If you receive the Domiciliary Care Allowance your Occupational Therapist will need to complete part of the application form. If the person with the disability is aged 16 of older, or if a child is not receiving the Domiciliary Care Allowance your Doctor will need to complete part of the form. For further information please contact:

PT Helpline 1890 200 255 - Opening Hours: 9am to 5 pm (Monday to Friday) Phone: 1890 200 255 Email: [email protected]

6 Housing

6.1 Housing Adaptation Grant This grant from the Local Authority is to help with the costs involved in making changes to a home in order to make it suitable for a person with a

20 physical, sensory or intellectual disability or mental health difficulty to live in. Applications are prioritised on medical needs and to get the grant your income must be below a certain limit.

Maximum yearly household % of costs Maximum grant income

Up to €30,000 95% €30,000

€30,001 - €35,000 85% €25,000

€35,001 - €40,000 75% €22,500

€40,001 - €50,000 50% €15,000

€50,001 - €60,000 30% €9,000

Over €60,000 No grant payable

 The maximum grant for adapting your existing home is €30,000  The maximum grant for building a new home or adapting a home within one year of it being built is €14,500

The means test also allows for the following deductions from gross income: . Less €5,000 for each child 18 years or younger.

21 . Less €5,000 for each child aged between 18 to 23 years in full time education or on a FAS apprenticeship. . Less €5,000 if you are cared for by a relative on a full-time basis. . Any payment of Domiciliary Care Allowance, Child Benefit, Carers Allowance/Benefit, Carer’s Support Grant and Family Income Supplement are not regarded as means.

To get the grant you need to apply to your Local Authority Housing Department (county or city council). To apply you will need to complete an application form, including a GP medical report, information about your tax payments and provide evidence of household income.

6.2 Mobility Aids Grant This grant aims to fast track funding to cover minor works to address mobility problems. Eligibility for the grant is subject to a means test. Works such as level access showers, ramps, grab rails and stair lifts are covered. The grant is means tested. The maximum grant is €6,000.

To apply you need to complete an application form. Application forms are available from your Local Authority Housing Department (county or city council). You will also be asked to include additional information such as: a GP medical report, evidence of household income and a quote detailing the cost of the proposed works.

6.3 Refund of VAT when Extending or Adapting your home If you adapt or extend your existing home to meet the needs of a disabled member of the household you can claim back the VAT on the building work carried out. This does not apply to new buildings. Also you can claim back the VAT on all recommended aids and appliances

Once recommended by an Occupational Therapist, appliances and adaptations such as those listed below qualify for a refund of VAT:

. Downstairs bedroom . Downstairs bathroom . Level access shower . Playroom for child with special needs . Adapted kitchen . Walk-in baths designed for people with disabilities . Commode chairs . Lifting seats and specified chairs designed for people with disabilities . Braille books

22 . Hoists and lifts designed for incapacitated people, including stair lifts

The standard rate of VAT is currently 23% (2016). To apply you need to fill out a claim form VAT 61A.

For further information and to receive a claim form please contact the Revenue Commissioner, Refund on Aids and Appliances for People with Disabilities, Monaghan, Tel 047 62100, Email [email protected] or Website www.revenue.ie.

6.4 Refund of Vat on Aids and Appliances This is a refund of the VAT on all recommended Aids and Appliances for a person with a disability. The standard rate of VAT is currently 23% (2016). To claim you need to fill out form VAT 61A.

7 Respite Care

7.1 What is respite care? Respite care is when the regular caregivers are provided with some time-off or a break from the daily routine of care giving. Respite care can be provided to individuals of any age, both children and adults.

Respite care can take place in your home or in a setting away from home, such as a respite centre or holiday centre. The costs of services vary; some are free of charge, some funded by the HSE, some charge a commercial rate and others are provided at a nominal cost.

What are the benefits of respite services? For the caregiver the:  Opportunity of a break  Opportunity to devote time to other family members and friends  Participation in community activities  May provide options for care during crisis or emergencies  Additional relief and support during stressful times

For the individuals receiving respite care:  Safe, quality, care  Opportunities for new experiences

23  Strengthens family relationships  Opportunities to socialise with people outside the family  Participation in community activities

Services can be accessed by contacting the service directly, your CRC Social Worker or Disability Manager in your local Health Services Executive (HSE). Unfortunately the reality is that there is greater demand for service than there is supply and some of the agencies are forced to operate waiting lists.

Listed below are the main facilities available to clients of the CRC in the greater Dublin area. Your Social Worker would also be happy to discuss any of these matters with you.

7.2 Children’s Home Based Respite Services

7.2 (a) CRC Home Respite Service The CRC Home Respite Service offers parents a break while giving their child one to one care and stimulation. Our Home Respite Worker will come to your home, on average one day a week and take over the care of the baby, child or teenager for a period of three hours. The Social Work Department arranges this service. The service has two aims:  To allow the parent take a break. Some parents have a rest, spend time with their other children, meet with friends or go shopping.  To provide a positive experience of separation and play for the baby, child or teenager. The service is provided free of charge and is reviewed every six months. To find out further information discuss with your Social Worker or contact the Social Work Department CRC, 01 8542233

7.2 (b) Jack and Jill Foundation The Jack and Jill Foundation is a registered charity set up to help and support babies who are born with severe developmental delays and who require ongoing medical and nursing care. The Jack and Jill Foundation help the child and their family by providing them with early intervention and home respite care until they reach the age of four years.

For further information please contact The Jack & Jill Children's Foundation, Johnstown Manor, Johnstown, Nass, Co. Kildare, Telephone (045) 894538, Email [email protected] ,Website www.jackandjill.ie

24 7.2 (c) HSE Funded Home Care Packages This scheme aims to help people who need medium to high caring support to continue to live at home independently. There is no automatic entitlement to the scheme or to avail of services under the scheme. A package of care is put together to suit an individual’s needs, often including home help, personal assistance, physiotherapy and occupational therapy. The scheme is administered by the HSE through the local HSE Disability Managers. Each HSE Area has responsibility for the operation of the scheme within the resources allocated for it in that area. Check with your Public Health Nurse for further information on the Home Care Package and the application process involved, HSE Infoline 1850 241 850. 7.3 Children’s Residential Respite Services

7.3 (a) CASA Break houses Casa is an organisation of people with disabilities and voluntary members. The aim is to develop friendships between members through regular events. These include regular social events, holidays, respite breaks, and pilgrimages to Lourdes. Casa provide holiday breaks to children with disabilities in their purpose built houses in Swords and Malahide. They aim to provide a fun active holiday in a homely atmosphere. Activities include arts and crafts, music, trips to the zoo, playgrounds, bouncing castles and lots of fun and games.

For more information please contact CASA Breakhouses, 15 Ard Na Mara, Malahide,Co. Dublin, Tel 01 845 4841, Email [email protected] , website: www.casabreakhouses.ie .

7.3 (b) Laura Lynn Laura Lynn provides support to children with life limiting conditions and their families by providing high quality care. Laura Lynn supports families by providing home support, respite care, responding to crises and end of life care. For more information please discuss with your social worker, see www.lauralynn.ie.

7.3 (c) Teenage Breaks – Irish Wheelchair Association The Irish Wheelchair Association organises a number of group holiday breaks for Youth Members during the year. These breaks usually take place in IWA Cuisle Holiday Centre, Dunamon, Co. Roscommon. The centre aims to provide holiday breaks in a homely environment with the necessary supports in place. For further information please contact the Youth Officer, Irish

25 Wheelchair Association, Blackheath Drive, Clontarf, Dublin 3, Tel 01 8186458, Website www.iwa.ie.

8 Other 8.1 Assessment of Need A parent or guardian who feels that their child may have a disability can apply to have their child’s needs assessed by the HSE. Under the Disability Act 2005 children born after the 1st of June 2002 with disabilities have a right to:

 an independent assessment of their health and educational needs arising from their disability  an assessment report  a statement of the services they will receive  make a complaint if they are not happy with any part of the process. Applications must be made in writing on a standard form which is available from your Local Health Office. To find out more call the HSE Infoline on 1850 24 1850 or visit www.hse.ie