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. Child Benefit is not paid on
behalf of 18-year olds.
Child Benefit is paid at one and a half times the appropriate monthly rate
for twins, and at double the appropriate monthly rate for triplets and other
multiple births.
Changes in 2012
It was announced in Budget 2012 that the rates of payment of Child Benefit
will be standardised for all children over the next two years. This means that
the Child Benefit rate will be the same for all children in a family.
In 2012 Child Benefit is €140 per month for each of the first two
children. From 1 Jaunary 2012 the rate for the third child is €148 and for
the 4th and each subsequent child is €160.
Additional monthly payment for twins and triplets will continue but the
grant of €635 paid at birth, at 4 years of age and at 12 years of age for
these multiple births has ceased from 1 January 2012.
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 is sent to
you for your signature and payment details. This form also includes
information on how to claim for
your new baby online. (Please note that you can only claim
online if you are invited to do so by the Department.) 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 your 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. This is also the case if the worker becomes unemployed and gets a
jobseeker's payment.
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.
You can find out more about Family Benefits and EU Regulations in Part 9 of
the EU Guidelines on the Department of Social Protection's website and in
the booklet 'Your
social security rights in Ireland – a guide for EU citizens'. You can
also contact the Child Benefit Section for more information on how EU rules
affect Child Benefit - 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 4 months that they continue to work in this State.
Non-EU/EEA citizens are also required to certify every 4 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 is €140 per month for each of the first two children. The
rate for the 3rd child is €148. The rate for the 4th and each subsequent
child is €160.
Child Benefit in 2012:
| Family size |
Monthly rate |
| One child |
€140 |
| Two children |
€280 |
| Three children |
€428 |
| Four children |
€588 |
| Five children |
€748 |
| Six children |
€908 |
| Seven children |
€1,068.00
|
| Eight children |
€1,228.00 |
Multiple births
The rate of child benefit paid for twins is 1.5 times the appropriate
monthly rate for each child.
The rate for the 1st and 2nd child is €140.00 per month, €148.00 for the
3rd child and €160.00 for the 4th and subsequent children.
Example: If you have 2 children already, and then have
twins, the twins will be the 3rd and 4th children in the family. Therefore the
monthly payment for the twins will be €222 (€148 x 1.5) plus €240 (€160
x 1.5).
Where the multiple birth involves three or more children, the rate of
benefit paid is double the appropriate monthly rate, provided at least three of
the children remain qualified.
Grants for multiple births are no longer paid from 2012.
How to apply
Child under 16 years of age
If your baby is born in Ireland and you are not claiming for any other
children, the Child Benefit section will send you an application form. This
form also includes information on how to claim for your
new baby online. (Please note that you can only claim online if you
are invited to do so by the Department.)
If you are claiming Child Benefit for another child, your new baby is added
to your 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.
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.