A recently increased scheme is available to thousands of parents who are receiving social welfare.
The newly launched Child Support Payment, which was previously called Increase for a Qualified Child, was increased in Budget 2025. At the beginning of January, it rose by €4 from €46 to €50, for children under 12 years of age, and by €8 from €54 to €62 for children aged 12 years and over.
Your social welfare payment is made up of a weekly amount for yourself, called the personal rate . You may also get an extra amount for your child, which is the Child Support Payment (CSP). You do not get a CSP with certain payments, and in some circumstances you may only get a half-rate CSP.
Here’s everything you need to know about the payment:
How to qualify for Child Support Payment
To get a Child Support Payment (CSP), your child must:
- Live with you
- Meet the age requirement for that payment
- Be resident in the State
- Not be in legal custody (detained in a detention school)
Your child does not have to be financially dependent on you. Your child can work and earn money, without affecting the increase paid to you. A CSP can be paid on behalf of foster children.
However, you generally do not get a CSP if your child is getting their own social welfare payment, except in certain circumstances.
When is the Child Support Payment not paid?
You do not get a Child Support Payment (CSP) with the following payments:
- Working Family Payment
- Guardian’s Payment (Contributory)
- Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory)
- Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Non-Contributory) Pension
- Death Benefit by way of Orphan’s Payment
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You do not get a CSP if the gross income of your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is over €400, and you get one of the following payments:
- Illness Benefit
- Injury Benefit
- Health and Safety Benefit
- Jobseeker’s Benefit or Disablement Benefit (Incapacity Supplement)
- Invalidity Pension
- Carer’s Benefit
- State Pension (Contributory)
If your child gets a social welfare payment
You do not get a CSP if your child is getting a social welfare payment or Supplementary Welfare Allowance in their own right (with the exception of Disablement Benefit).
However, if you are getting a CSP during the summer holiday period between academic years and your child becomes entitled to a social welfare payment in their own right, you will continue to get the CSP and your child’s payment is reduced by the amount of the CSP.
You can find out more information here.
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