Child Benefit

Information

Child Benefit (previously known as Children's Allowance) is payable to the parents or guardians of children under 16 years of age, or under 18 years of age if the child is in full-time education, FÁS Youthreach training or has a disability.

If you had a multiple birth you will be entitled to a special grant at the time of birth and again when the children are 4 and 12 years old. Child Benefit is paid at one and a half times the monthly rate for twins, and at double the monthly rate for triplets and other multiple births.

Budget 2009 made changes to the age criteria for Child Benefit. From January 2010, children aged 18 will no longer get Child Benefit.

In 2010, you will get a compensatory payment of €15 per week if your child aged 18 is getting Disability Allowance or if you are getting:

• A social welfare payment and getting an increase in your payment for the child aged 18
• A Family Income Supplement payment which includes the child aged 18.

You do not apply for this compensatory payment, it is paid automatically on the 3rd Monday of each month.

Rules

You need to apply for Child Benefit within 12 months of:

• The birth of your baby or
• The month the child became a member of your family or
• The month the family came to live in Ireland.

Birth of your baby

If your baby is born in Ireland, when you register the birth of your baby the Department of Social Protection will begin a Child Benefit claim for your child:

• If you are not claiming Child Benefit for another child a new claim is created by the Department and a partially completed claim form (and a special FREEPOST envelope) is sent to you for your signature and payment details. The baby is also given a Personal Public Service (PPS) Number.
• If you are claiming Child Benefit for another child, your new baby is added to the Child Benefit claim and payment begins automatically from the month after the birth. A letter confirming payment will be sent to you by the Department. The baby is also given a Personal Public Service (PPS) Number.

Children aged 16 and 17

If you want to keep your Child Benefit for a disabled child or a child in full-time education or a child on a full-time Youthreach course aged under 18, you will need to fill in the right form (see 'How to apply' below) one month before your child's 16th birthday. This form must also be signed and offically stamped by:

• The school/college if your child is in full-time education
• FÁS if your child is on a full-time Youthreach course
• A doctor if your child has a disability

If your child is aged 16 or 17 and you are getting Child Benefit for him or her, you must notify the Department of Social Protection immediately if:

• Your child leaves school/college/FÁS YOUTHREACH course before the certified date or
• Your child is able to support himself/herself before reaching age 18 or the date certified by the doctor.

Full-time education (aged 16 and 17)

If your child is 16 or 17 years of age and in full-time education you will get Child Benefit until June. You will not get another payment until your child returns to full-time education in September. The Child Benefit section will send you an application form in August. If your child returns to full-time education in September, fill in and return this application form. When you get your payment it will include any arrears due to you, including Child Benefit for July and August.

If you don't get a form in the post from the Child Benefit section, fill in form CB2 in September - see 'How to apply' below.

Child Benefit and EU Regulations

EU/EEA citizens and Swiss nationals working in Ireland, satisfy the habitual residence condition for Child Benefit.

If you are an EU/EEA citizen or a Swiss national and work in a country covered by EU Regulations, the country you work in usually pays Child Benefit even if your family is living in another country. However, if your children are living in another EU/EEA country you should still apply for any Family Benefits you are entitled to there.

If the Family Benefit you get in the country your children are living is less than the Child Benefit payment here, your Irish Child Benefit payment will make up the difference. For more information on how EU rules affect Child Benefit, contact the Child Benefit Section - see 'Where to apply' below.

Countries covered by EU Regulations are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom (excluding the Channel Islands).

Non-EU/EEA citizens

Non-EU/EEA citizens must be habitually resident in Ireland to quality for Child Benefit. If you are a non-EU/EEA citizen and legally working in this State, you may qualify for Child Benefit if your child is also resident here. More information is available in our document on habitual residence.

Anti-fraud checks

EU/EEA citizens and Swiss national covered by EU Regulations are required to certify every 3 months that they continue to work in this State.  

Non-EU/EEA citizens are also required to certify every 3 months that they and their children continue to live in this State. 

Fraudulent claims for Child Benefit

Penalties for false or misleading statements made to obtain Child Benefit for you or for any other person, may result in large fines or prison for up to three years.

Rates

Child Benefit monthly rate in 2010 for children under 18:

Child Benefit	Monthly rate
One child	€150
Two children	€300
Three children	€487
Four children	€674
Five children	€861
Six children	€1,048
Seven children	€1,235
Eight children	€1,422

 

Multiple births

The rate of child benefit paid for twins will be 1.5 times the normal monthly rate for each child. Where the multiple birth involves three or more children, the rate of benefit paid is double the monthly rate, provided at least three of the children remain qualified.

In addition, a special 'once-off' grant of €635 is paid on all multiple births. Further 'once-off' grants of €635 are paid when the children are 4 years of age and 12 years of age.

How to apply

Child under 16 years of age

If your baby is born in Ireland the Child Benefit section will send you either an application form or a letter confirming payment.

If your child is not born in Ireland or their birth is not registered within the required time you must fill in Child Benefit (form CB1)(pdf). You must send this form (CB1) with a copy of your baby's birth certificate by FREEPOST to the Child Benefit Section - see 'Where to apply' below. You can get a birth certificate for your child from the General Register Office (GRO). A special copy will be given to you for Child Benefit, which the Department will not return.

Children aged 16 and 17

To get Child Benefit for a child aged 16 or 17 fill in Child Benefit (form CB2) (pdf). If you are already getting Child Benefit for this child, the Child Benefit section will send you an application form in the post. Send your form by FREEPOST to the Child Benefit Section - see 'Where to apply' below. If you have any difficulty filling in this form, staff in your Social Welfare Local Office will help you.

Where to apply

You can email the Child Benefit section using the secure Child Benefit enquiry form.