Update on changes to the assessment of Child Maintenance Payments
Date for the removal of child maintenance from social welfare means-tests announced.
The date for the removal of child maintenance payments from means-tested social welfare payments has been announced, see press release here.
From 4th June 2024, child maintenance payments will be excluded from all social welfare means-tests.
Many lone parents currently on reduced rates of social welfare payments will see their payment increase. People who were not eligible before may be eligible now, if they meet all of the other conditions for a payment.
We have been advised that reviews of claims where child maintenance was included will take place automatically. There is no need for people to take any action. The Department of Social Protection will identify cases where child maintenance has been included, and will review the claims.
The Department will be contacting people over the coming weeks to let them know about the review, and to tell them about any changes to their payment.
We have updated the most frequently asked questions on our helpline below.
What is child maintenance?
Put simply, child maintenance is money paid to the parent the children live with most of the time, by the other parent, to pay towards the cost of caring for them.
A parent is required to maintain a dependent child. A dependent child is a child who:
- Is under 18 years old or
- Is over 18 and under 23 years old but is still in full-time education or
- Someone who has a mental or physical disability and where it is not reasonably possible for the child to maintain her/himself fully. In this case the duty to financially maintain that child continues indefinitely.
In Irish law, both parents are obliged to provide for their dependent children according to their circumstances – whether they were married or not.
How was child maintenance treated previously, in means testing for social welfare payments?
Prior to these changes child maintenance was included in calculating a person’s ‘means’ which decides the amount of payment they receive weekly. Some maintenance was ‘disregarded’ if the person paid rent or mortgage. This announced change means that child maintenance will not be included in calculating a person’s ‘means’ and it won’t impact the amount of weekly payment they receive.
I receive spousal maintenance as part of my divorce agreement. Will this also be excluded from social welfare means testing?
No, only child maintenance paid for the benefit of a child will be excluded. You must still declare spousal maintenance and it will continue to be included in means testing as normal.
I am on a reduced payment because child maintenance is included in my ‘means’. Will my social welfare payment go up?
If you are on a reduced-rate payment because child maintenance is included in your ‘means’ as income, then, once it is removed, and provided all other circumstances remain the same, your weekly social welfare payment should increase.
I declared child maintenance to the Department, but I am not sure if this reduced my payment. Am I guaranteed an increase if my payment is reviewed?
A review will only result in an increase in your payment depending on how much child maintenance you receive and whether you were previously using a housing disregard to minimise how much maintenance was included in the initial means test. For example, if you receive and declared weekly child maintenance of €80 per week but you also have housing costs over €95 per week, then your payment may not have been reduced due to child maintenance and a review will not result in an increase.
When will this change happen and when will my payment be reviewed?
The law changed on 4th June 2024 and child maintenance is excluded from that date. The Department have advised that any increase in your payment will be backdated to the date the law is commenced, that is, to 4th June 2024. Reviews of claims where child maintenance was included will take place automatically, there is no need for people to take any action. The Department of Social Protection will identify cases where child maintenance has been included, and will review the claims. The Department will be contacting people over the coming weeks to let them know about the review, and to tell them about any changes to their payment.
I am applying for One-Parent Family Payment. Do I still need to show that I tried to get maintenance from the other parent?
No, you do not need to provide details of child maintenance you receive or provide any evidence that you have sought child maintenance from the other parent. You must declare any spousal maintenance as this will continue to be included in means testing.
I am applying for One-Parent Family Payment. Do I still need to declare maintenance on the application form?
If you are making a new claim, you do not need to provide details of child maintenance you receive. You must declare any spousal maintenance as this will continue to be included in means testing.
Will any changes to my payment be backdated?
The law changed on 4th June 2024 and child maintenance is excluded from that date. The Department have advised that any increase in your payment will be backdated to the date the law is commenced, that is, to 4th June 2024. Reviews of claims where child maintenance was included will take place automatically, there is no need for people to take any action. The Department of Social Protection will identify cases where child maintenance has been included, and will review the claims. The Department will be contacting people over the coming weeks to let them know about the review, and to tell them about any changes to their payment.
I pay court ordered child maintenance and my childrens’ other parent receives a social welfare payment. Do I still have to pay?
If there is a court order which requires you to pay child maintenance, you must continue to pay. If you do not, you are in breach of a court order which is an offence. Parents are responsible for the support and maintenance of their children, and this is not linked to whether the other parent is on a social welfare payment.
I pay child maintenance for my children, but it is by agreement and not court ordered. Do I still have to do that?
In Irish law, both parents are responsible for the support and maintenance of their children. This change does not change those obligations. It is hoped that it will improve the situation for children, not disimprove it.
I only get Disability Allowance, but I receive child maintenance. Do the changes apply to my payment also?
The decision to remove child maintenance from the assessment of means applies to all social welfare payments and not just One-Parent Family Payment or Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment. If you are in receipt of Disability Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Working Family Payment etc., and your payment has been reduced because you receive child maintenance, then these changes will apply to you.
My Rent Supplement is reduced because of my child maintenance payment will these changes apply to me?
Yes, these changes will apply to you. Child maintenance will no longer be assessed as means or income for the purposes of any Department of Social Protection Social Assistance scheme or means tested payment, which includes Rent Supplement, from June 4th 2024.
Do these changes apply to other State supports that means test child maintenance?
No, these changes only apply to means tested social welfare payments. Other state supports like medical cards, childcare subsidies etc. will still means test maintenance according to the rules and regulations associated with that support. One Family will continue to campaign to have means testing of child maintenance removed across all Government supports.
What should I do if I have questions, or the Department are still assessing my child maintenance as means or they refuse to review my payment?
The Department of Social Protection has stated that reviews of payments will happen automatically, and that people do not need to do anything.
The Department will be contacting people over the coming weeks to let them know about the review, and to tell them about any changes to their payment.
In the meantime, it is better if parents do not request a payment review if it only relates to the inclusion of child maintenance. Your right to request a payment review for other reasons (a new job, a reduction in working hours etc.) remains in place.
You can also contact the askonefamily helpline on 01 6629212 or 0818 662212 and we would be happy to help. You can also email us at helpline@onefamily.ieThe helpline is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 3pm.
We will update this page when we receive any updated information
Put simply, child maintenance is money paid to the parent the children live with most of the time, by the other parent, to pay towards the cost of caring for them.
A parent is required to maintain a dependent child. A dependent child is a child who:
- Is under 18 years old or
- Is over 18 and under 23 years old but is still in full-time education or
- Someone who has a mental or physical disability and where it is not reasonably possible for the child to maintain her/himself fully. In this case the duty to financially maintain that child continues indefinitely.
In Irish law, both parents are obliged to provide for their dependent children according to their circumstances – whether they were married or not.
Prior to these changes child maintenance was included in calculating a person’s ‘means’ which decides the amount of payment they receive weekly. Some maintenance was ‘disregarded’ if the person paid rent or mortgage. This announced change means that child maintenance will not be included in calculating a person’s ‘means’ and it won’t impact the amount of weekly payment they receive.
No, only child maintenance paid for the benefit of a child will be excluded. You must still declare spousal maintenance and it will continue to be included in means testing as normal.
If you are on a reduced-rate payment because child maintenance is included in your ‘means’ as income, then, once it is removed, and provided all other circumstances remain the same, your weekly social welfare payment should increase.
A review will only result in an increase in your payment depending on how much child maintenance you receive and whether you were previously using a housing disregard to minimise how much maintenance was included in the initial means test. For example, if you receive and declared weekly child maintenance of €80 per week but you also have housing costs over €95 per week, then your payment may not have been reduced due to child maintenance and a review will not result in an increase.
The law changed on 4th June 2024 and child maintenance is excluded from that date. The Department have advised that any increase in your payment will be backdated to the date the law is commenced, that is, to 4th June 2024. Reviews of claims where child maintenance was included will take place automatically, there is no need for people to take any action. The Department of Social Protection will identify cases where child maintenance has been included, and will review the claims. The Department will be contacting people over the coming weeks to let them know about the review, and to tell them about any changes to their payment.
No, you do not need to provide details of child maintenance you receive or provide any evidence that you have sought child maintenance from the other parent. You must declare any spousal maintenance as this will continue to be included in means testing.
If you are making a new claim, you do not need to provide details of child maintenance you receive. You must declare any spousal maintenance as this will continue to be included in means testing.
The law changed on 4th June 2024 and child maintenance is excluded from that date. The Department have advised that any increase in your payment will be backdated to the date the law is commenced, that is, to 4th June 2024. Reviews of claims where child maintenance was included will take place automatically, there is no need for people to take any action. The Department of Social Protection will identify cases where child maintenance has been included, and will review the claims. The Department will be contacting people over the coming weeks to let them know about the review, and to tell them about any changes to their payment.
If there is a court order which requires you to pay child maintenance, you must continue to pay. If you do not, you are in breach of a court order which is an offence. Parents are responsible for the support and maintenance of their children, and this is not linked to whether the other parent is on a social welfare payment.
In Irish law, both parents are responsible for the support and maintenance of their children. This change does not change those obligations. It is hoped that it will improve the situation for children, not disimprove it.
The decision to remove child maintenance from the assessment of means applies to all social welfare payments and not just One-Parent Family Payment or Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment. If you are in receipt of Disability Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Working Family Payment etc., and your payment has been reduced because you receive child maintenance, then these changes will apply to you.
Yes, these changes will apply to you. Child maintenance will no longer be assessed as means or income for the purposes of any Department of Social Protection Social Assistance scheme or means tested payment, which includes Rent Supplement, from June 4th 2024.
No, these changes only apply to means tested social welfare payments. Other state supports like medical cards, childcare subsidies etc. will still means test maintenance according to the rules and regulations associated with that support. One Family will continue to campaign to have means testing of child maintenance removed across all Government supports.
The Department of Social Protection has stated that reviews of payments will happen automatically, and that people do not need to do anything.
The Department will be contacting people over the coming weeks to let them know about the review, and to tell them about any changes to their payment.
In the meantime, it is better if parents do not request a payment review if it only relates to the inclusion of child maintenance. Your right to request a payment review for other reasons (a new job, a reduction in working hours etc.) remains in place.
You can also contact the askonefamily helpline on 01 6629212 or 0818 662212 and we would be happy to help. You can also email us at helpline@onefamily.ieThe helpline is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 3pm.
We will update this page when we receive any updated information
Background and Context
The Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023, gives effect to significant reforms for people parenting alone, including the exclusion of maintenance payments from social welfare means tests for the first time.
In November 2022, the Government announced that child maintenance payments would no longer be included when calculating means and assessing eligibility for social welfare payments. This decision was made following recommendations made by the Child Maintenance Review Group, established by Government. The decision means that many people parenting alone on reduced rates of social welfare payment (due to the inclusion of child maintenance as means) will see their payment increase. It also means that more lone parents may qualify for a social welfare payment.
Seeking Maintenance and the Liable Relative Provision
The review group recommended that parents no longer be required to show ‘proof of efforts’ that they had sought maintenance from the other parent which is a requirement for the One-Parent Family Payment and Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment. This recommendation was accepted. In August 2023, the Minister announced that she had signed regulations which meant that parents no longer had to prove that they had sought maintenance from the non-resident parent when applying for the One-Parent Family Payment, or Job-Seeker‘s Transitional Payment.
The recommendation to remove the liable relative provision (which allowed the Department to recoup money from the non-resident parent) was also accepted and the required changes to the law are now in place.
Exclusion of Child Maintenance Payments from Means Testing
Changes to the law were also needed for the removal of child maintenance as means from new and existing claims, where it was included. The Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 has now been enacted and the legislation has been commenced as of 4th June 2024.
The exclusion of child maintenance from means testing applies to both new social welfare applicants and people who already receive social welfare payments. Child maintenance will no longer be assessed as means or income for the purposes of any Department of Social Protection social assistance scheme or means tested payment including One-Parent Family Payment, Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment, Carer’s payments, Rent Supplement, Disability Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance etc.
Obligation to Support Children
The removal of child maintenance from the calculation of social welfare payments does not in any way reduce a parent’s obligations to support their children. It is still the primary responsibility of both parents to maintain and support their children. It is hoped that these changes will improve the situation of children where their main carer is dependent on a social welfare payment, particularly in the context of increased cost of living expenses.
How much maintenance is paid?
In Ireland, there are no guidelines about the amount of maintenance which should be paid. The law states that both parents are responsible for providing for their children until they are 18 years of age or until they are 23 if in full-time education.
Parents may be able to decide between them or, they may negotiate the amount with their solicitors, or the court may decide. Each party must fully disclose their finances to the court and the judge will consider all of the family’s circumstances when making a maintenance order.
How is maintenance decided and arranged?
Maintenance Orders – The Practicalities
Maintenance is paid for dependent children. A dependent child for maintenance purposes is:
- someone who is under 18, or
- someone between 18 and 23 years if they are in full-time education, or
- someone who has a mental or physical disability and where it is not reasonably possible for the child to maintain her/himself fully. In this case the duty to financially maintain that child continues indefinitely.
In some circumstances maintenance may also be paid for an ex-spouse or former co-habitant.
You will find information below about changes to how child maintenance is assessed by the Department of Social Protection:
Maintenance
Maintenance (sometimes called child maintenance or child support) is a regular payment by the parent with whom the child or children spend a lesser amount time (often a non-resident parent),to the other parent, towards the cost of raising the child or children.
Put simply, maintenance is money paid to the parent the children live with most of the time, by the other parent, to pay towards the cost of caring for them.
In Irish law, both parents are obliged to provide for their dependent children according to their circumstances – whether they were/are married or not.
A dependent child for maintenance purposes is:
- someone who is under 18, or
- someone between 18 and 23 years if they are in full-time education, or
- someone who has a mental or physical disability and where it is not reasonably possible for the child to maintain her/himself fully. In this case the duty to financially maintain that child continues indefinitely.
In some circumstances, maintenance may also be paid for an ex-spouse or former co-habitant.
Maintenance is paid regularly: weekly, fortnightly, or monthly; either by agreement between the two parents, by a Rule of Court, or because there is a court order in place that directs it.
Social welfare payments include spousal maintenance as income in means testing. You will find information here about changes to how child maintenance is assessed by the Department of Social Protection.
Who is maintenance paid for?
How is maintenance decided and arranged?
How much maintenance is paid?
Maintenance and Social Welfare Payments
Emergency Payments
There are times when families struggle to meet the cost of living. Things can be even tougher when there is an unexpected cost of some sort such as a very large utility bill or a once-off item.
The Department of Social Protection (DSP) has a scheme called the Supplementary Welfare Scheme (SWA) which may be useful in such circumstances. There are three types of payment under the scheme which may apply:
Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance
Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance is a weekly allowance paid to people who do not have enough income to meet their needs and those of their families.
If you have claimed a social welfare benefit or pension but it has not yet been paid and you have no other income, you may qualify for basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance while you are waiting for your payment. However, the amount paid while you are waiting will be deducted from the arrears of your social welfare payment. If you have started work, you may qualify for basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance for up to 30 days while you are waiting for your wages.
The Additional Needs Payment
The Additional Needs Payment is a once-off payment to help meet a once-off exceptional cost – something other than the normal costs of the household – which someone could not be reasonably expected to meet out of their weekly income. For example, the payment could be for bedding, or cooking utensils for someone setting up a home for the first time, or it could be for costs related to visiting relatives in hospital or prison, or costs related to a funeral following bereavement.
You do not have to meet the habitual residence condition to qualify for the additional needs payment.
The Humanitarian Assistance Scheme
The Humanitarian Assistance Scheme may be paid to people in emergency situations; for example in the case of a fire, flood or other type of accident or disaster. The payment is meant to help with the immediate cost of food and clothing. You may have to pay back some or all of the money at a later date, if you are in employment and have the means to repay the money later, or if you receive money through an insurance scheme to cover your losses.
If you are means-tested for an Urgent Needs Payment, all capital, property, (except your home) is taken into account and assessed as means. In a means test, the Department of Social Protection examines all of your sources of income. Sometimes a certain amount, or income from a particular source, is not taken into account – these are called “income disregards”. However all capital/property except your home is taken into account for the Urgent Needs Payment as there are no disregards for capital.
St Vincent de Paul
The St Vincent de Paul is a long-established Irish organisation whose goal is to fight poverty in all its forms. It does this by offering practical assistance to people who need it through its nation-wide services. While this option may not be for everyone, it may be useful to know about the services they offer and their locations. That information is on their website. To access their service you make contact with the office in your area and they will be able to tell you about the next steps. This contact will usually involve leaving your contact details, including your address and a contact phone number and possibly the nature of your enquiry.
Other Social Welfare Payments
Carer’s Allowance
In order to receive Carer’s Allowance, the person you are providing care for must be under the age of 16 and you must be in receipt of Domiciliary Care Allowance for them; or the person is over 16 and is incapacitated to an extent that they need full-time care and attention. The person must be living with you or you need to be in a position to provide the necessary full time care and attention to the person you are in receipt of Carer’s Allowance for.
Further information on Carer’s Allowance
Carer’s Benefit
Carer’s Benefit is payable to people who are insured, having made PRSI contributions, who leave the work place to care for someone in need of full time care and attention. A person can receive 104 weeks in total, in order to care for the person. This can be taken all at once or in any number of separate chunks, up to 104 weeks.
Further information on Carer’s Benefit
Child Benefit
Child Benefit is a universal payment for parents or guardians with children aged under 16 or under 18, once they are in full time education. It is a monthly payment of €140 per child.
Further information on Child Benefit
Jobseeker’s Allowance
Jobseeker’s Allowance is the primary social welfare payment for someone of working age, who is unemployed, or working less than 4 days a week, and is seeking work. It is a means tested weekly payment.
Maternity Benefit
Maternity Benefit is a payment made to those who are on maternity leave from work and covered by social insurance (PRSI). A half-rate payment may be payable if you are already in receipt of certain social welfare payments, including the One-Parent Family Payment.
Further information on Maternity Benefit
Parent’s Benefit
Parent’s Benefit is paid to eligible parents during the period of parent’s leave. Parent’s leave entitles each parent to 7 weeks leave during the first 2 years of a child’s life.
Further information on Parents BenefitTax Relief for Parents
Single Person Child Carer Credit
If you are parenting alone and paying tax you may be eligible for an additional tax credit. The credit is called the Single Person Child Carer Credit (SPCCC). The amount of the credit is currently €1,900 per year (2025). This will reduce the tax you pay.
If you are eligible for the SPCCC, you are automatically entitled to an expansion of the lower tax band. The standard rate tax band for 2025 was increased by €4000 to €48,000 for a single person. In 2025, if you qualify for the SPCCC, you can earn €48,000 on the standard rate of tax (currently 20%) before moving to the higher tax band.
There are conditions for eligibility for the SPCCC:
- Only one parent can claim the SPCCC, and that person must be caring for an eligible child or children alone and cannot be cohabiting.
- You cannot claim if you are being jointly assessed for tax, if you are married (unless separated), co-habiting or in a civil partnership.
The SPCCC cannot be claimed in the year of bereavement if your spouse or civil partner has died but you may claim the SPCCC for the following tax years if you meet the qualifying criteria. The credit It can be claimed in the year of separation if you are not assessed for tax yourself because your tax was jointly assessed. There is more information about that on Revenue’s website here.
Can you give up your SPCCC claim to a secondary claimant?
You can give up your right to the SPCCC if you are the primary claimant. This is known as surrendering your claim. You may choose to do this because you do not have sufficient taxable income to use the credit fully.
Another person, the second parent or guardian (the secondary claimant), will then be entitled to claim the SPCCC instead, provided they meet the qualifying criteria for secondary claimants.
You may claim SPCCC again later if you are still a qualifying primary claimant and the tax credit will be restored to you at the beginning of the tax year following the withdrawal.
Further information on the difference between a primary and secondary claimant is available here.
There is more information on this tax credit and how to apply on the Revenue website.
Budgeting
Money Advice & Budgeting Service
The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) can help people to budget to minimise the chances of getting into financial difficulty. Find out more below: Money Advice and Budgeting Service – MABS
Secondary Benefits
Back To School Clothing and Footwear Allowance
This is a payment from the Department of Social Protection under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, aimed at supporting families with the cost of school uniforms and footwear.
Learn moreFuel Allowance
Fuel Allowance is an additional weekly social welfare payment for those in receipt of certain social welfare payments. It is aimed at meeting the extra costs of heating a home during the winter months; is payable from April to October and can be paid in two lump sums.
Learn moreOne Parent Family Payment with Other Payments
One-Parent Family Payment and Half Rate Maternity Benefit
If you are pregnant and expect to be parenting alone then you may be eligible for both the One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) and a half rate of Maternity Benefit, once you meet the necessary conditions of each payment.
You can apply for the OFP as soon as your baby is born and if the payment is awarded you may receive a full rate of OFP (dependent on the means test) and half-rate Maternity Benefit for the duration of your maternity leave.
If you return to work after 26 weeks of maternity leave then you may still be eligible for the One-Parent Family Payment, depending on your income from employment. The first €165 you earn is ignored for the purposes of calculating your assessed means for the OFP payment. Half of the balance is assessed as means and a reduced OPF payment may be made, in addition to your earnings from work.
If you take additional unpaid maternity leave of up to 16 weeks, your Maternity Benefit will end after 26 weeks, but you could retain the OPF payment pending your return to work.
One-Parent Family Payment and Half Rate Carer’s Allowance
If you are parenting alone and caring for an adult (such as a parent or sibling) or a child for whom Domiciliary Care Allowance is payable, you may qualify for both One-Parent Family Payment and half-rate Carer’s Allowance provided you continue to meet the qualifying conditions for both payments. You would be paid both payments until your youngest child is 16. You can also receive an increase for any other qualified children up until the age of 18 (or 22 if in full time education), while half-rate Carer’s Allowance and One Parent Family Payment are being paid.
Once the child for whom you are receiving Carer’s Allowance reaches the age of 16, they may qualify for Disability Allowance in their own right. A parent who is still caring full-time for the child may be entitled to Carer’s Allowance without the child who is receipt of Disability Allowance, being included as a qualifying child.
Free Travel Pass
As a carer, you may receive a Free Travel Pass. This allows you to travel free of charge on any public transport. However, it is only for you and does not entitle anyone else to travel free of charge if they are accompanying you.
Household Benefits Package
If you are a carer and living with the person you are caring for, you may qualify for the Household Benefits Package, which includes an allowance towards Electricity, Natural Gas or Bottled Gas Refill Allowance and a Free TV Licence.
Fuel Allowance
You will not qualify for the Fuel Allowance on Carer’s Allowance alone, but if you are on another payment such as OFP you can qualify for it. The person you are caring for may be entitled to Fuel Allowance in their own right also. Fuel Allowance is paid, generally between the months of October and April, to people on certain long term social welfare payments. It is to assist people on low incomes with heating their home. The current rate of fuel allowance (2025) is €33 per week and it will increase to €38 per week from January 2026. If you are getting a social welfare payment, Fuel Allowance is included in your weekly payment. If you are not getting a social welfare payment, the Fuel Allowance can be paid directly to your bank account, or you can collect it from your local post office.
Carer’s Support Grant
While in receipt of Carer’s Allowance, you will also be eligible for the Carer’s Support Grant, which is currently (2026) €2000 per year and paid on the 5thJune.
Carer’s Leave
Carer’s leave allows for employees, who have been working for their employer for a minimum of 12 months, to leave their work on a temporary basis, in order to provide full time care and attention to someone in need. The minimum is 13 weeks and the maximum is 104 weeks. Carer’s leave is unpaid leave however you may be eligible for either Carer’s Benefit, if you meet the requirements for PRSI contributions or you may qualify for Carer’s Allowance, which is means tested. You do not have to be eligible for either of these payments in order to take Carer’s leave.
Working Family Payment
The Working Family Payment (WFP) is a weekly tax-free social welfare payment payable to working families who are on a lower income. The rate paid is based on family size. It may apply to you and your family if:
- You are working 19 hours or more a week or 38 hours or more a fortnight;
- Your employment is likely to last 3 months or more;
- You are looking after one or more children aged under 18 or between 18 and 22 and in full time education;
- You are earning less than the income limits for your family size.
The income limits, which are set out below, are based on weekly net income, that is, after tax, PRSI, superannuation and universal social charge have been deducted. If your weekly net income is less than the rate for your family size, and you meet all of the other conditions, you may be entitled to the payment.
| FAMILY SIZE | 2026 WEEKLY INCOME LIMITS | 2026 ANNUAL INCOME LIMITS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 child | €765 | €39,780 |
| 2 children | €866 | €45,032 |
| 3 children | €967 | €50,284 |
| 4 children | €1058 | €55,016 |
| 5 children | €1,184 | €61,568 |
| 6 children | €1300 | €67,600 |
| 7 children | €1,436 | €74,672 |
| 8+ children | €1,532 | €79,664 |
Income is assessed as income from work (including overtime or bonuses), most social welfare and HSE payments, maintenance payments*(see note below on changes to how maintenance will be treated), and any income from pensions or self-employment. Non-cash benefits are not assessed as means.
Payments that are not included in the assessment of income are Child Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance, Guardian’s payments, Supplementary Welfare Allowance and Fuel Allowance.
A full list of income assessed and excluded income from is available here.
*There is information on the changes to how maintenance is to be assessed on our website here: Changes to how child maintenance is treated.
The WFP payment is 60% of the difference between the net family income and the set income limit for your family size.
If you qualify, even if only by a small margin, the minimum payment made is €20 a week. You cannot get WFP if you are taking part in a Community Employment (CE) Scheme.
- The Back to Work Family Dividend is available for people who are in work and who are no longer eligible for either Jobseeker’s payments or One-Parent Family Payment because of their employment.
- The means test for WFP does not include the payment of the Back to Work Family Dividend.
Working Family Payment & Other Payments
- Working Family Payment is not taxable and does not affect secondary benefits if you receive them already.
- If you are getting WFP you may also be entitled to the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance.
- Your income from WFP is not taken into account in the assessment for a medical card if you are otherwise eligible.
- Working Family Payment is a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance purposes.
- The Back to Work Family Dividend (BTWFD) and WFP can be paid together and the BTWFD will not be taken into account in the income test for WFP.
- WFP can be paid at the same time as One-Parent Family Payment provided you meet the conditions and means test for both payments. If you are already in receipt of WFP and also receive One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) but are coming off the payment due to the age of your youngest child, then your WFP payment will be automatically reassessed on the basis of the loss of the OFP. It will not make up for the full loss of the OFP but may account for up to 60% of the OFP payment.
- WFP and Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment cannot be paid at the same time.
- If you are working, you may be eligible for the SPCCC – the Single Person Child Carer Credit which is an additional tax credit for people parenting alone.
To claim the Working Family Payment you will need to have two recent payslips and your Certificate of Tax Credits from Revenue to send with your application form.
To get an application form or for more information contact your local INTREO centre.
You can send your completed Working Family Payment application form to:
Working Family Payment (WFP) Section
Department of Social Protection
Social Welfare Services Office Government Buildings, Ballinalee Road
Longford, Ireland
Opening Hours:
Phone line: 10:00am – 4.00pm, Monday to Friday
Tel | 074 916 4575
Homepage | https://www.gov.ie/en/service/08bb21-working-family-payment/
Online Applications:
The quickest way to apply for Working Family Payment is through MyWelfare.ie. A customer with a basic MyWelfare account can submit an application but will not have the full benefits of a verified MyGovID account. You can access this service here.
You can also use the following email addresses for payment or application queries (applications are generally not accepted by email):
- New applications: WFPNewClaims@welfare.ie
- Renewal applications: WFPRenewals@welfare.ie
Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment
The Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment (JST) is a means-tested payment under the Jobseeker’s Allowance Scheme for people who are parenting alone. If you have been in receipt of One-Parent Family Payment, and the payment is ending because your youngest child will be 7, you may be eligible for this payment.
You may also be eligible if you are parenting alone or sharing parenting following the end of your relationship, and you have a child aged between 7 and 13 who lives with you for 50 percent of the time or more. You can apply for JST even if you were not in receipt of One-Parent Family Payment previously.
The payment is designed to support you back into work when your children are older. You will need to meet certain conditions for payment, but you do not have to meet the requirement of being available for, and actively seeking, full-time work.
If you are married or in a civil partnership but your relationship has ended and you are no longer living together, you will need to be living apart for three months to qualify. This does not apply to unmarried applicants who were cohabiting.
The main conditions for Jobseeker’s Transitional payment are as follows:
- You have your child living with you who is aged between 7 and 13 (the payment ends when the youngest child reaches 14)
- You are capable of work
- You meet the means test
- You are not living with a spouse, civil partner or partner cohabiting
While in receipt of Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment:
- You do not have to be available for, or seeking, full time work.
- You can study full-time and keep your payment.
- You do not have to be fully unemployed for 4 out of 7 days; this means you could work part time across more than 3 days and still receive a payment.
Payment rate for 2026
- Personal Rate: €254 weekly
- €58 for each dependent child aged 0-12
- €78 for each dependent child aged 12+
Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment and Employment
You can work and earn €165 gross per week before your rate of payment is affected. Half of the remaining amount of your gross weekly earnings is assessed as means and deducted from the maximum weekly payment. If you are self-employed, then the weekly disregard of €165 does not apply. All of your net profit is assessed as means.
With this payment you do not need to be available for full-time work, or genuinely seeking work if you are caring for your children. However, you will be expected to meet with the Department from time to time, at their request, to consider what options may be available to you, to plan for work in the future. You may also be required to take recommended courses of education or training.
You cannot get the Working Family Payment (WFP) in addition to the Job-Seeker’s Transitional Payment.
How to Apply
You can apply for the JST payment at your local INTREO centre. You can also download the application form and return it, with the relevant documentation, to your local INTREO centre. Information on the Department’s website, including the application form, is here.
Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment and Maintenance
Update on changes to the assessment of Child Maintenance Payments
One-Parent Family Payment
The One-Parent Family Payment is a means-tested payment available to women and men under the age of 66 who are the main carers of their children or are raising their child or children without the support of a partner.
You can be in employment and receive One-Parent Family Payment, if you meet the criteria which include a means test.
To qualify for a One-Parent Family Payment you must:
- Be aged under 66;
- Be a parent, stepparent, adoptive parent, or legal guardian of a child;
- Have a child aged 7 years or younger (there are exceptions, see below);
- Be the main carer of the child, and they must live with you (Important – One-Parent Family Payment is not payable if the parents have joint equal custody of the child);
- Satisfy a means test; and
- Be habitually resident in Ireland.
You will not qualify if:
You are living with a spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant.
You can earn a certain amount without it affecting the payment (currently €165 weekly gross). If you earn over that amount, you can receive a reduced payment up to a set limit.
One-Parent Family Payment Rates 2026
Maximum personal weekly rate: €254
Child aged under 12 years: €58 additional payment for each child weekly
Child aged 12 years and over: €78 additional payment for each child weekly
As long as your youngest child is under the age limit (currently 7 yrs), an Increase for a Qualified Child (IQC) will be paid for other children in the family until they reach 18 (or 22 if in full-time education). You must notify the Department if a new baby is born as they will not be added to your payment automatically.
One-Parent Family Payment & Maintenance
There is information on the changes to how maintenance is to be assessed on our website here: Changes to how child maintenance is treated.
One-Parent Family Payment and Employment
You can be in employment and receive the One-Parent Family Payment. The rate of payment will be based on your weekly means from your earnings (wages and profit from self-employment). There is an income disregard for the first €165 of your gross weekly earnings. This means you can earn up to €165 a week and may still qualify for the full OFP. Half of the remaining amount of your gross weekly earnings is assessed as means. You can consult the Department’s rates book here to see what your payment will be, based on your means.
When can I apply?
If you are parenting alone and meet the requirements above, you should apply for the One-Parent Family Payment once your baby is born. You will need the baby’s birth certificate to apply.
If you were living with a partner, are not married, and the relationship ends, then you can apply for the payment once you are living apart. If you are married or in a civil partnership and the relationships ends you are required to be living separately from your spouse or civil partner for a minimum of 3 months.
When your youngest child turns seven years old
You will stop getting One-Parent Family Payment when your youngest child turns 7. There are some exceptions to this:
Domiciliary Care Allowance: your One-Parent Family Payment may continue until the child you are getting the Domiciliary Care Allowance for is 16 or your youngest child turns 7 – whichever is later.
Blind Pension: your One-Parent Family Payment may continue until your youngest child is 16.
Carer’s Allowance: your One-Parent Family Payment may continue until your youngest child is 16, or until your Carer’s Allowance stops, whichever is earlier.
Recent Bereavement: if your spouse or civil partner has died, you can claim One-Parent Family Payment for up to two years after the death or until your youngest child turns 18, whichever is earlier.
Your local DSP or INTREO office would be able to tell you if any of these apply in your case.
Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment
When your youngest child turns 7, you will have to apply for a new payment as your One-Parent Family Payment will end.
If you are not in employment, then you can apply for the Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment (JST). This is a payment for lone parents whose youngest child is between 7 and 13 years. If you are in employment, you may have the option to receive Working Family Payment or have that payment increased if you already receive it. It is sometimes more beneficial to be in receipt of JST rather than Working Family Payment as it allows you to continue receiving secondary benefits such as Fuel Allowance, Christmas Bonus etc.
Further information on JST is below
Parenting Alone Through School Breaks
For some parents the school holiday is a respite time with a more relaxed routine. However, it can also be challenging if you’re not able to take time off work, have a lack of childcare options or are living on a tight budget. Getting through the school break can then require a lot of planning and management.
Here are our tips for parenting alone during school breaks:
- Time off, where possible: If you work outside of the home, plan your leave in advance for school holidays. Get the list of days off from the school at the start of each term and use this to plan your time off. If this is not possible, try to finish early over a few days during the mid-term.
- Plans: Make plans with children prior to school breaks. Making plans in advance for the days off will ensure that children are clear about what will happen. They will cooperate more if they are involved in making the plans.
- Family: Engage the support of family as much as possible at school breaks. If you share parenting with your child’s other parent, agree a system for the school holidays in advance. Grandparents and other family members can love having the chance to have some extra quality time with the children, maybe even a sleepover. Make sure to involve children in any plans and give them the information they need in advance.
- Friends: Make plans with other parents for play dates. Maybe you can set up a shared rota?
- Fun: Even if you have to work, try to have fun with children during the break. Fun doesn’t have to mean expense. Activities such as cooking, arts and crafts or having a picnic at home are really enjoyable things to do in the comfort of your own home. Plan fun activities out such as going to the park, feeding the ducks, a walk on the beach or going swimming.
- Library: Libraries often hold events for children on school breaks and are also a great source of information about what is taking place locally, such as nature walks or music workshops.
- Clear Out: Children can really enjoy helping at home. Take the school break as an opportunity to do a spring clean. Get the children involved in planning what needs to be done, make a colourful chart together. Maybe they can clear out their wardrobes and bring some clothes, toys or books to the charity shops. You may find hidden treasures as you go along, to have a dress up day when you finish!
- Socialise: Take school breaks as an opportunity to meet other families. There are lots of websites supporting families to meet up and do activities together. If you are feeling isolated, check out the One Family Social Group for starters. It provides a supportive environment for parents to enjoy a day out with other parents in similar circumstances, and is great fun for the children. Email us or call us if you’d like more information.
- Routine: It’s important to try to keep the bed time and meal time routines in place while children are on short school breaks. This will ensure that they will not get over tired, and as they are still in their routine when school begins again, the transition will be easier for everyone.
- Enjoy: Most of all, enjoy the break from homework as this allows time for other things in the evenings. Just being together and having enjoyable moments is enough.
Further Support
We provide limited direct support to both parents and children of one-parent families. This support can be requested directly by parents, for themselves or their child, and by professionals who work with one-parent families. You can find out more about this support here.
Helpline
Our askonefamily helpline is open 10am – 3pm, Monday – Friday. We provide detailed, confidential information on social-welfare entitlements and finances, family law, housing, education, childcare and parenting.
We also offer a listening-support service for people who need help parenting alone, sharing parenting or separating. You can call the askonefamily helpline on 0818 662 212 or 01 662 9212, or email your query to
helpline@onefamily.ie.