Navigating Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) in Ireland: Expert Help from Irish Resilience Clinic

Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) in Ireland

What is the Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA)?

Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly payment provided by the Irish government to support parents and guardians caring for a child aged under 16 with a severe disability. The allowance helps cover the additional costs associated with the child’s care needs.

• Eligibility: Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is not means-tested, so you may qualify regardless of your income. The allowance is based on the level of care required by the child, not the type of disability.
• Purpose: It is intended for children who need ongoing care and attention significantly beyond what is usually needed by children of the same age without disabilities.

You can learn more about what constitutes severe or substantial care needs in the Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) Medical Guidelines, which are used by the Department of Social Protection (DSP) when assessing applications for Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA).

Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) Medical Card Scheme

All children receiving Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) are entitled to a medical card without a means test. If your child does not already have a medical card or GP visit card, you can register online using the HSE website or download the HSE’s paper registration form.

How to Qualify for Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA)

To qualify for Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA), your child must:

• Have a severe disability likely to last for at least a year.
• Be under 16 years old.
• Live with the person receiving the Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) for at least 5 days a week (with some exceptions).
• Meet the medical criteria set by the Department of Social Protection (DSP).
• Be ordinarily resident in Ireland.

Additionally, the person receiving Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) must provide care for the child and be habitually resident in the State.

Medical Criteria: The law requires that the child must have “a severe disability requiring continual or continuous care and attention, substantially in excess of the care and attention normally required by a child of the same age.” Eligibility is determined by the level of care needed, not the specific disability.

Assessment Information: The Department of Social Protection’s (DSP) Medical Assessor will review the history of the case, all medical reports, and your description of the care needed by your child.

Living at Home

To qualify for Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA), the child must live at home with the recipient for at least 5 days a week. However, Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) may still be paid in situations where:

• Parents are living apart but share custody.
• The child attends residential care but goes home for at least 2 days a week.

How Much is Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA)?

The Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) rate is €340 per month. Payments are made on the third Tuesday of every month for the current month.

Support from the Irish Resilience Clinic

The Irish Resilience Clinic can produce comprehensive reports within 2 weeks of a phone call to support your Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) application. Our detailed reports have helped many families successfully secure the allowance.

Contact Irish Resilience Clinic

• Email: Info@irishresilience.ie
• Phone: +353 874062203
• Whatsapp: Chat with Us

Caring for More Than One Child

There is no limit to the number of children for whom you can claim Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA). If you care for multiple children who qualify for Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA), you can receive the allowance for each child.

Hospital Stays

You can continue receiving Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) for up to 26 weeks within a 12-month period if your child is in hospital for medical treatment. For babies born on or after January 1, 2023, you can receive Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) for up to 18 months if they stay in the hospital for medical treatment immediately after birth.

Other Payments

You can receive Child Benefit in addition to Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA). Additionally, you may qualify for the annual Carer’s Support Grant, Carer’s Benefit, or Carer’s Allowance if you meet the criteria for these payments.

How to Apply for Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA)

To apply, fill in a Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) application form (Dom Care 1).

You can:

• Have the form posted to you by the Department of Social Protection (DSP).
• Collect a copy from your local Intreo Centre, Social Welfare Branch Office, or local Citizens Information Centre.

Complete Parts 1 to 5 of the form yourself, and have your child’s GP or specialist fill in Parts 6 and 7 (the medical report). Include any relevant reports about your child’s disability and care needs.

Optional Extra Medical Form: If your child has a Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), you can ask the medical professional to complete an additional medical form called DomCare3. This form is particularly useful if you do not have a recent report from your child’s medical professional.

Appeals

If your application is refused, you can appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office within 21 days of receiving the decision.

What Happens When My Child Reaches 16?

Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) stops when your child turns 16. The Department of Social Protection (DSP) will notify you three months before your child’s 16th birthday. At this point, your child can apply for Disability Allowance (DA), which is a means-tested payment for individuals with disabilities who are restricted in their ability to work.

Irish Resilience Clinic’s Role

The Irish Resilience Clinic has a proven track record in assisting families with their Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) applications. We have successfully helped many families secure Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) through comprehensive medical reports and expert guidance. Visit our website to learn more about how we can support you in applying for Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA).