Family benefits
Under European law, Child Benefit, One Parent Family Payment and Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory) are classed as family benefits. You do not need to satisfy the habitual residence condition for one of these payments if you:
- are a national of Switzerland or a country in the European Economic Area (see table below),
- are employed or self-employed, and
- pay Irish PRSI or receive Irish Jobseeker’s Benefit.
The following countries are in the European Economic Area:
| Austria |
Hungary |
Republic of Cyprus (Cyprus South) |
| Belgium |
Iceland |
Poland |
| Bulgaria |
Ireland |
Portugal |
| Czech Republic |
Italy |
Romania |
| Denmark |
Latvia |
Slovak Republic |
| Estonia |
Liechtenstein |
Slovenia |
| Finland |
Lithuania |
Spain |
| France |
Luxembourg |
Sweden |
| Germany |
Malta |
the Netherlands |
| Greece |
Norway |
the United Kingdom |
Supplementary Welfare Allowance
If you are an EEA national (see above for list of EEA countries) and can be considered an EU migrant worker, you will be entitled to Supplementary Welfare Allowance under the same conditions as Irish nationals.
To be considered an EU migrant worker, you must be in genuine employment since coming to Ireland (casual work or work for only a few hours a week do not count).
If you are out of work, you can only be considered an EU migrant worker if you meet other conditions, for example being registered with FÁS as a jobseeker, taking part in vocational training or not being able to work due to illness.