Budget 2027 announcements. Implementation dates vary. · By K Imports

Budget 2027: Carers and welfare means-test changes

Carer's Allowance disregards, earnings disregards and qualified-adult thresholds from July 2027.

Sources checked 2026-10-07.

Who it affects and when

Audience: Carers and claimants affected by earnings or qualified-adult means tests.

Timing: The published means-test changes start in July 2027.

Carer's Allowance: The weekly income disregard rises from €1,000 to €1,150 for a single person and from €2,000 to €2,300 for a couple.
Employment earnings: The weekly employment disregard increases by €10 to €175 for One-Parent Family Payment, Jobseeker's Transitional Payment, Disability Allowance and Blind Pension.
Qualified adults: The upper income threshold for an Increase for a Qualified Adult on the State Pension (Contributory) and other social insurance payments rises from €310 to €340.
Farm and environmental income: For Farm Assist and State Pension (Non-Contributory), the agri-environmental scheme disregard rises from €5,000 to €7,500 and covers more schemes. The seaweed-harvesting disregard rises from €1,270 to €2,500 annually.

Use the correct income definition and disregard for the particular payment.
Separate July changes from January weekly-rate changes.
Report changes through the scheme's actual assessment process; an increased disregard does not guarantee eligibility.