Family carers are being warned that if the level of government support they receive through the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment exceeds the income they receive through the part time job it is there to replace, then they may be required to pay back the difference in the future.
The warning was given by the local manager of Family Carer’s Ireland Richie Molloy to Tipp Mid West this morning.
There had been initial concern that carers in receipt of the Carers Allowance who were working part time and lost their job would be excluded from the payment.
But it has since been clarified that they will be eligible to avail of the Covid-19 Emergency Payment and retain the full Carers Allowance.
Welcoming that development, Mr Molloy warned that if the emergency payment exceeds the level of income lost through the part-time job, then the government is likely to be seeking it back.
For carers who may need further information at this time or may need someone to talk to, the National careline is available on 1800 24 07 24.
For updated and factual Public Health information and advice on COVID-19 Coronavirus, please visit hse.ie/coronavirus or call 1800 700 700
For the latest information on the Covid-19 Vaccine Programme, please visit hse.ie/covid-19-vaccine
