An extra 2,140 children in Donegal will receive an extension of child benefits despite reaching 18 years old if they are in full time education or who have a disability.
The Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys TD, has today (May 1st) extended the scheme.
The first payments will be made next week and will benefit around 60,000 children across the country who are in full time education or who have a disability.
The move means hard-pressed families will continue to receive €140 a month for children who reach 18 years of age.
Minister Humphreys secured agreement to extend Child Benefit to 18-year-olds as part of Budget 2024 with the measure initially due to be implemented from September.
However, in February the Minister announced that her Department was in a position to introduce the changes in May – four months earlier than initially planned.
Announcing the extension of Child Benefit to 18-year-olds, Minister Humphreys said:“I’m delighted to announce that Child Benefit is being extended to 18-year-olds from today.
“This was a Budget priority for me with the measure initially due to come into effect in September. However, in February I announced that we were in a position to implement the change four months earlier from May.
“This will benefit thousands of families right across the country, who up until now saw their Child Benefit end as soon as their child turned 18.
“With many children now starting primary school at age five, together with the increase in pupils doing transition year, there has been an increase in the number of 18-year-olds still in secondary education.
“Child Benefit is one of the only mechanisms available to me to support and put more money back into the pockets of working families.
“I believe the extension of Child Benefit to 18-year-olds in full-time education is a long-term change for the better and will support families across Ireland into the future.”
“We expect that some 60,000 children will benefit annually as a result of this significant change.”
Child Benefit is currently paid to over 650,000 families in respect of over 1.2 million children with an estimated expenditure of more than €2.1 billion in 2024.
Child Benefit is paid on the first Tuesday each month at a monthly rate of €140 per child.
In the case of a child who turned 18 after May 2023 and they are still in full-time education, they will be eligible again from May 2024 up to their 19th birthday.
The parent/guardian does not need to reapply if the child is in full-time education and the Department holds a current education certificate. The payment will be reactivated from May 2024 as long as the certificate is valid, and payment will continue for as long as a valid education certificate is in place or the child turns 19, whichever comes first.
If the child turns 18 after May 2024, Child Benefit will automatically be extended to either the 19th birthday or the expiry date of the current certificate.
In cases where the education certificate expires prior to the 19th birthday, a new education certificate will be issued to the parent/guardian before it expires. This must be completed and returned to allow payment of Child Benefit to resume.
The Department will contact a parent/guardian directly if they need to provide an updated education certificate.
For people who need to update their payment details, the quickest and easiest way to change payment details is online at MyWelfare.ie.
