Overview

• From July 1, eligible care recipients can draw up to €3,539 per calendar year for either short-term facility care or in-home caregiver relief under a single fund.
• The six-month prerequisite for accessing caregiver relief is abolished, enabling recipients at care level 2 or higher to claim support immediately.
• Maximum respite care weeks rise from six to eight per year, aligning caregiver relief duration with short-term care allowances.
• During respite periods, care allowance payments continue at half the normal rate and familial carers who are unpaid can receive up to twice their regular allowance.
• Applications can be submitted online to sickness funds, with provisions for retroactive claims and advice to arrange replacement care early due to limited availability.