You qualify for this payment if you are aged under 66 years of age and:
- are a 'qualified parent'.
A qualified parent is:
- a widow, a widower or a surviving civil partner or
- a separated spouse or
- a civil partner who is not living with the other civil partner of the civil partnership or civil union or
- an unmarried person or
- a person who is not a party to a civil partnership or a civil union
- a person who is not in a cohabiting relationship
- a person whose spouse or civil partner is in prison or place of detention for not less than 6 months.
who is either:
- a parent,
- a step-parent,
- an adoptive parent or
- a legal guardian of at least 1 qualified child, who normally resides with that person,
satisfies
- a means test, and
- the Habitual Residence Condition
For more information on the Habitual Residence Condition log on to 'www.welfare.ie'
If you are separated or divorced or your civil partnership or civil union has been dissolved, you must have:
- been separated from your spouse or civil partner for at least 3 months, and
- sought maintenance from your spouse or civil partner.
If you are unmarried, or a person who is not a party to a civil partnership or a civil union you must:
- be the qualified parent of a qualified child, and
- seek maintenance from the other parent of the child.
If your spouse or civil partner is in prison, they must have:
- been sentenced to a prison term of at least 6 months, or
- been in custody for at least 6 months without being 4 sentenced.