The first payment date of the brand new Newborn Baby Grant is just days away. On average, a few thousand children are born in Ireland every month, and with parents of new babies born from the 1st of December eligible for the new grant, thousands of people are set to receive the €420 boost.
The new grant was announced during Budget 2025 and comes into effect this month, with the first payment date on the 7th of January. It is then paid out to those who are eligible on Child Benefit payment dates, which are the first Tuesday of every month.
The grant consists of a €280 boost, along with the usual €140 rate of Child Benefit, adding up to a handy lump sum of €420 when parents collect their child’s first Child Benefit Payment. The grant is automatically paid in respect of any newborn baby who has been registered to receive Child Benefit), reports RSVP Live.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Who can claim Child Benefit?
To get Child Benefit, you must be living in Ireland and meet the Habitual Residence Condition (HRC)
Your child must be under 16, or:
- Aged 16, 17 or 18 and in full-time education or training
- Aged 16, 17 or 18, have a disability, and be unable to support themselves.
You cannot claim Child Benefit for a child in a detention facility.
When do I apply for Child Benefit?
Depending on your situation, you should apply for Child Benefit within 12 months of:
- Your baby being born
- The child becoming a member of your family
- Your family coming to live in Ireland
- You starting work in Ireland (if your children are living in another EU country)
How to apply for Child Benefit
If your baby is born in Ireland, you must register their birth within three months. After you do this, the Department of Social Protection (DSP) will:
- Give a Personal Public Service (PPS) number to your baby, and
- Start a Child Benefit claim for your child.
If you’re not already claiming Child Benefit for other children and register your newborn within three months, the Child Benefit Section of the DSP will send you a partially filled out Child Benefit form CB1 (pdf). This form will contain details on how to claim for your new baby online.
However, you can only claim online if you’ve been invited to do so by the DSP. If you’re already receiving Child Benefit for another child and register your new baby within three months, your new baby will be added to your existing Child Benefit claim.
The DSP will then write to you confirming when payments will commence.
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