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The respite care grant is an annual payment for carers who care for people in need of full-time care. The Respite Care Grant is a cash payment and carers can use the grant in whatever way they wish. Respite care may involve providing alternative family or institutional care for a person with a disability in order to enable the carer to take a short break, a holiday or a rest.

Care is provided at a number of locations around the country for people with different disabilities. The person being cared for may be admitted to a Health Service Executive (HSE) Area (public) nursing home for a period of two weeks. Respite care is organised through your public health nurse or family doctor (GP). From June 2006, the respite grant will be increased from €1000 to €1200 for each person you are caring for. 

The respite grant is paid automatically to those carers who are receiving Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Constant Attendance Allowance or Prescribed Relative’s Allowance. If you do not receive any of these payments you may still qualify to receive the respite grant if you are aged 16 or over, are a resident in the State, are caring for the person on a full time basis and for at least 6 months and are living with the person being cared for or can be contactable quickly by a direct system of communication e.g. telephone, alarm.

You do not qualify if you are working more than 15 hours per week outside the home, if you are getting an unemployment payment, if you are signing on for unemployment credits or if you are living in a hospital, convalescent home or similar institution.

You can request a respite Care Grant application form from your local social welfare office or from the Respite Care Grant section on 01 6732222.
Taken from www.welfare.ie and http://oasis.gov.ie/health .