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Child Benefit

Child Benefit Rates

	Rate per month
1st and 2nd child	€140.00
3rd child	€148.00
4th and subsequent children	€160.00

Twins – Child Benefit is paid at one and a half times (150%) the normal monthly rate for each child.

All other multiple births – Child Benefit is paid at double (200%) the normal monthly rate for each child.

Maternity/Adoptive Benefit

Maternity Benefit Rates from 2 January 2012
Adoptive Benefit Rates from 2 January 2012

	Rate per week
Maximum rate	€262.00
Minimum rate	€217.80

The rate payable is 80% of your earnings in the relevant tax year subject to a reckonable earnings ceiling.

Health & Safety Benefit

Health & Safety Benefit from 2 January 2012

	Rate per week
Personal Rate	€188.00

 

Increases

Increases	Rate per week
Increase for Qualified Adult	€124.80
Each qualified child	Full Rate: €29.80 (See Note 1)
	Half Rate: €14.90 (See Note 1)

Note 1:
You can get an increase of €29.80 for each qualified child if you qualify for an increase for a qualified adult or if you are parenting alone. If you do not qualify for an increase for a qualified adult, you may get a half-rate qualified child increase, if your spouse or partner has income of €400 or less per week.

Health & Safety Benefit rates are graduated according to earnings in the relevant tax year. The earnings bands from 2 January 2012 are as follows:

Average weekly earnings	Personal rate	Increase for Qualified Adult
Less than €150.00	€84.50	€80.90
€150.00 and less than €220.00	€121.40	€80.90
€220.00 and less than €300.00	€147.30	€80.90
€300.00 or more	€188.00	€124.80

Guardian's Payment Contributory

Guardian's Payment (Contributory) from 6 January 2012

	Rate per week
Rate for orphan	€161.00

Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory)

Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory) from 6 January 2012

Weekly means, as assessed by us:	Rate per week
Up to €7.60	€161.00
Over €7.60 and up to €10.10	€158.50
Over €10.10 and up to €12.60	€156.00
Over €12.60 and up to €15.10	€153.50
Over €15.10 and up to €17.60	€151.00
Over €17.60 and up to €20.10	€148.50
Over €20.10 and up to €22.60	€146.00
Over €22.60 and up to €25.10	€143.50
Over €25.10 and up to €27.60	€141.00
Over €27.60 and up to €30.10	€138.50
Over €30.10 and up to €32.60	€136.00
Over €32.60 and up to €35.10	€133.50
Over €35.10 and up to €37.60	€131.00
Over €37.60 and up to €40.10	€128.50
Over €40.10 and up to €42.60	€126.00
Over €42.60 and up to €45.10	€123.50
Over €45.10 and up to €47.60	€121.00
Over €47.60 and up to €50.10	€118.50
Over €50.10 and up to €52.60	€116.00
Over €52.60 and up to €55.10	€113.50
Over €55.10 and up to €57.60	€111.00
Over €57.60 and up to €60.10	€108.50
Over €60.10 and up to €62.60	€106.00
Over €62.60 and up to €65.10	€103.50
Over €65.10 and up to €67.60	€101.00
Over €67.60 and up to €70.10	€98.50
Over €70.10 and up to €72.60	€96.00
Over €72.60 and up to €75.10	€93.50
Over €75.10 and up to €77.60	€91.00
Over €77.60 and up to €80.10	€88.50
Over €80.10 and up to €82.60	€86.00
Over €82.60 and up to €85.10	€83.50
Over €85.10 and up to €87.60	€81.00
Over €87.60 and up to €90.10	€78.50
Over €90.10 and up to €92.60	€76.00
Over €92.60 and up to €95.10	€73.50
Over €95.10 and up to €97.60	€71.00
Over €97.60 and up to €100.10	€68.50
Over €100.10 and up to €102.60	€66.00
Over €102.60 and up to €105.10	€63.50
Over €105.10 and up to €107.60	€61.00
Over €107.60 and up to €110.10	€58.50
Over €110.10 and up to €112.60	€56.00
Over €112.60 and up to €115.10	€53.50
Over €115.10 and up to €117.60	€51.00
Over €117.60 and up to €120.10	€48.50
Over €120.10 and up to €122.60	€46.00
Over €122.60 and up to €125.10	€43.50
Over €125.10 and up to €127.60	€41.00
Over €127.60 and up to €130.10	€38.50
Over €130.10 and up to €132.60	€36.00
Over €132.60 and up to €135.10	€33.50
Over €135.10 and up to €137.60	€31.00
Over €137.60 and up to €140.10	€28.50
Over €140.10 and up to €142.60	€26.00
Over €142.60 and up to €145.10	€23.50
Over €145.10 and up to €147.60	€21.00
Over €147.60 and up to €150.10	€18.50
Over €150.10 and up to €152.60	€16.00
Over €152.60 and up to €155.10	€13.50
Over €155.10 and up to €157.60	€11.00
Over €157.60 and up to €160.10	€8.50
Over €160.10 and up to €162.60	€6.00
Over €162.60 and up to €165.10	€3.50
Over €165.10	Nil

Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance

The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is paid to parents whose income limits are at or below the following amounts:

Income limit for Couple

Couple with:	Income limit
1 child	€563.60
2 children	€593.40
3 children	€623.20
4 children	€653.00 (See Note 2)

Income limit for Lone Parent

Lone Parent with:	Income limit
1 child	€410.10
2 children	€439.90
3 children	€469.70
4 children	€499.50 (See Note 2)

Note 2:
Limit is increased by €29.80 for each additional child.

Rate of Payment - Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance

	Rate Payable
Rate for each child aged 4-11	€150.00
Rate for each child aged 12-17 (See Note 3)	€250.00

Note 3:
This is also paid for children aged 18-22 if they are in full-time education, for whom a qualified child increase is payable.