€140 Child Benefit payment shake-up latest after age rule change as parents due new €160 or €285 cash per child in weeks
THOUSANDS of Irish parents could be due to keep their €140 Child Benefit cash boost after a change to age rules.
Parents across the country rely on the key payment - and three additional cash payments also offer relief to families.
2
The payment is issued once a month
Credit: Getty Images - Getty
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Three other schemes are available for families
Credit: Getty Images - Getty
Typically, Child Benefit is issued to families with children up to the age of 16 but a change of rules means it can now be paid up until until their 19th birthday if the child is in full time education or has a disability.
Minister for
"The payment continues to be paid in respect of children until their nineteenth birthday where they are in full-time education or have a disability."
The scheme is paid out to almost 1.3 million children in Ireland and is expected to cost the state over €2.2 billion in 2025.
READ MORE IN MONEY
An August double payment of Child Benefit, worth €240, promised by Fine Gael leader
last year is
this summer.
Instead, the Department of Social Protection said the Government is focusing on a "targeted"
However, despite double child benefit being off the table, there are three additional
Minister for
MOST READ IN THE IRISH SUN
The Child Support Payment is made up of a weekly amount for yourself, with extra given for a
It is given on a circumstantial basis with no set amount allocated.
QUALIFYING REQUIREMENTS
To avail of this, your child must be living with you, meet the age requirement of under 18 years of age, be a resident in the state and not be in legal custody.
The
To avail of this, you must be an employee, have at least one child who either lives primarily with you or who you financially support, and is under 18.
If the child is in full time day
This is paid based on your average weekly family income, with 60 per cent of the difference between this and the WFP income limit being issued.
The payment is also not taken into account in the means test for a medical card.
The
'KEY PRIORITY'
Speaking on the payments, Calleary said: "These schemes provide targeted assistance that is directly linked to household income and thereby support low-income families with children.
"Addressing child poverty is a key priority for the Government. That is why the Programme for Government 2025, includes a range of measures to support children and their families.
"One such commitment is to explore a targeted Child Benefit Payment and examine the interaction this would have with existing targeted supports to reduce Child Poverty such as the Working Family Payment and Child Support Payment.
"My Department is progressing this work, having regard to the available body of evidence, including the work undertaken previously by the ESRI, The National Economic and Social Council and the Commission on Taxation and Welfare."
WHAT IS THE BACK TO SCHOOL ALLOWANCE?
The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, which is available to thousands of Irish parents, will open for applications in June 2025.
The payment is aimed at easing the
Children aged four to 11 receive a rate of payment of €160.
Those aged 12 to 22 receive a payment of €285.
However, there is criteria you must meet in order to avail of the cash.
You must be getting a qualifying social welfare payment or participating in an approved employment, education or training support scheme.
You and each child you claim for must be a resident in Ireland.
Your household income must be within the BSCFA income limits and you must be receiving the Increase for a Qualified Child payment along with social welfare payment.
WEEKLY INCOME LIMITS FOR THE PAYMENT
These are the weekly income limits parents must meet to qualify.
1 child €694
2 children €756
3 children €818
4 children €880
An increase of €62 is applied for each independent child in families with more than four kids.
The payment is usually paid out in early July, falling on the week of July 8 in 2024.
If you do not automatically get the payment and think you qualify you can apply on MyWelfare through your verified Gov.ie account.
If you do not have an account you can call the BSCFA contact centre on 071 919 3318 or 0818 11 11 13, and they will help you to set one up.
Applications for the payment usually close in late September.
WHAT ARE CHILD BENEFIT RULES?
Child Benefit is a tax free payment to parents or guardians of children under 16.
But it can also be claimed for children aged 16, 17 and 18 if they are in full-time education or full-time training or have a disability and cannot support themselves.
You must also be living in Ireland and meet the Habitual Residence Condition to claim the payment.
CHILD BENEFIT PAYMENT DATES
THIS is a full list of all the Child Benefit payment dates for the rest of the year.
The €140 payment, which is available regardless of a person's income or PRSI record, is paid out on the first Tuesday of every month.
However, the payment can
June 3 - may be paid early due to June Bank Holiday
July 1
August 5 - may be paid early due to August Bank Holiday
September 2
October 7
November 4
December 2
The Department of Social Protection
If your child lives between two separate households, the parent who lives with the child most of the time will receive the payment.
Someone who cares for a child not living with or being maintained by their parents may also be able to claim Child Benefit.
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