An upset caring mother whose teenage son has multiple disabilities has recently revealed that her carer’s allowance has been drastically cut since she got married.
The woman named Ger Corcoran from Celbridge Co Kildare who currently cares for 16 year old son Dylan who has multiple disabilities, including an intellectual disability, told the Irish Independent: “I feel like I and my son are being punished because of me finding someone to share my life with. It is a disgrace that Ireland has come to this.” “This is not about the money, it is about a mother’s right to be able to care for her disabled son full-time.”
The understandably angry mum also revealed that she was getting €204 a week before she got married, but is now only recieving €4 because the income of her husband, John McMahon, has been included in the means test. Ger further explained: “My financial independence is gone. I have to be financially reliant on John yet since I was 16 I worked and then Dylan came along.”
The struggling mum told the paper that she has even sought legal advice, but was told the only way the full allowance will be restored is if she gets divorced. “We were offended and hurt by that. At this stage I feel like I am being punished for finding someone to spend my life with.” “If we were to hand Dylan over to the care of the government it would cost them a hell of a lot more than €200 a week to care for him.”