AQW 26415/22-27

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 30/04/2025
Answered On Date: 24/06/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities whether he or his Department have discussed carer poverty for those citizens who continue to provide over 35 hours of caring per week, but are no longer able to claim or apply for Carers Allowance due to having reached State Pension age.

Answer:

Where a person has reached State Pension age overlapping benefit rules prevent Carer’s Allowance being fully payable at the same time as another income replacement benefit, such as the State Pension.

I met with Carers NI earlier in the year and a number of issues were discussed, including, carer poverty and overlapping benefit rules.