Families and children
-
Gives a short description of the social welfare benefits available to families and children.Payments to families and children
Overview
-
Parent’s Benefit is a payment for people who are on parent’s leave from work and covered by social insurance (PRSI). Each parent gets 9 weeks payment in the first 2 years after the child’s birth or adoption. -
Working Family Payment is a weekly tax-free payment to people on low pay. You must have at least one child to qualify. -
The Back to Work Family Dividend is a weekly payment to help people with children move from social welfare into work. -
Maternity Benefit is a payment by the Department of Social Protection to women on maternity leave from work. Find out more about Maternity Benefit and how to apply. -
Paternity Benefit is a payment that is made to a person who is on paternity leave from work and covered by social insurance (PRSI). -
Child Benefit is a monthly payment to all parents or guardians of children under 16, or under 19 if the child is in full-time education or has a disability. -
One-Parent Family Payment is a payment for people who are bringing children up without the support of a partner. -
The age limit for One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) reduced to 7 years in July 2015. People who no longer qualify for OFP because their youngest child is over the age limit may be eligible for other income supports. This document outlines your options. -
Adoptive Benefit is a payment made to people on adoptive leave from work. Find out how to apply and rates of benefit. -
A summary of Health and Safety Benefit for pregnant or breastfeeding women. -
This page explains how pregnancy may affect your social welfare payment. You may be entitled to a different payment or an increase in your current payment. -
The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) is paid each year to families on certain social welfare payments and other benefits. It helps with the cost of going to school. -
Deserted Wife’s Benefit is a social insurance payment made to women who were deserted by their husbands. This payment closed to new applicants in January 1997. Some women, however, continue to get a deserted wife's payment. -
Deserted Wife’s Allowance is a means-tested payment for women under 66 without dependent children who were deserted by their husband and who do not qualify for Deserted Wife’s Benefit.