The average annual cost per autistic child for families amounts to €28,464.89 related to private services, loss of income and the provision informal care. By comparison, annual state expenditure per child on autism–related health, social and educational resources was €14,192.” Roddy & O’Neill, 2018

Benefits and entitlements available to parents and carers of autistic children can help to ensure that your family has access to the supports and assistance that they need to thrive. 

Below are a list of some of the entitlements that you may be able to apply for. Please click the link to read more about any of the entitlements. 

• Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA): monthly €309.50 for a child aged under 16 years requiring ongoing care and attention, substantially over and above the care and attention usually required by a child of the same age. It is not means tested
  
  • All children getting DCA are eligible for a Medical Card without a means test
• Carer’s Allowance: means-tested payment paid to people who provide fulltime care to a person / child who needs support because of age, disability or illness
  
  • Carer’s Allowance is only allocated to parents of children under 16 years IF they are in receipt of DCA
• Carer’s Support Grant: First Thursday in June,  €1,700 grant automatically to carers in receipt of Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit or Domiciliary Care Allowance from the department
• Carer’s Benefit: a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce to care for a person(s) in need of full-time care and attention. You can get Carer’s Benefit for a total period of 104 weeks for each person being cared for
• Incapacitated Child Tax Credit: You can claim if you are the parent or guardian of a child who is permanently incapacitated, either physically or mentally
• Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability: available from local authorities to make changes to a home to make it more suitable for a person with a physical, sensory or intellectual disability or mental health difficulty
• Disability Allowance: When a child reaches 16, the DCA will cease. Disability allowance is a means-tested payment for people with disabilities who as a result of their disability are substantially restricted in undertaking work that would otherwise be suitable for a person of their age, experience and qualifications
• VAT refunds on aids and appliances: If you must purchase any specialist equipment for your child, VAT can be claimed back on some of these purchases, with a supporting letter from a relevant professional e.g., Speech and Language Therapist, Occupational Therapist etc. stating why the item is required

GAP can offer advice and assistance during the application or appeal’s process; please call the GAP office on 091 5888 99 or email coordinator@galwayautismpartnership.com 

If you would like advice or assistance in regards to your benefits and entitlements, or your child’s, please contact your local Citizen’s Information Office 

Tel: 0761 07 7600

Email: galway@citinfo.ie

Galway CIC
Augustine House
St Augustine Street
Galway
Co. Galway
H91Y7XH