Extra 2,000 Wicklow Kids To Receive Child Benefit

Dublin 1972

atest press release from Taoiseach Simon Harris, issued on Wednesday, May 1st 2024…

Taoiseach Simon Harris has today announced Child Benefit will be paid to an additional 1,946 children under new extension of eligibility.

Fine Gael’s Simon Harris has made one of his top priorities as Taoiseach is to put money back into families’ pockets.

From next week Child Benefit will be extended to 18-year-olds in full-time education or with a disability, annually benefitting over 60,000 children.

Speaking on this breaking news Taoiseach Simon Harris said, “Today’s announcement is about putting money back into people’s pockets. As Taoiseach I am seeking measures to ease the burden of families with the cost of living.

“Childcare costs can sometimes be too high for families across Wicklow and across the country. That’s why as a Government we are stepping up and extending Child Benefit to 18 year olds in full-time education or with a disability.

“From next week, 1,946 additional children in Wicklow will benefit from this new extension.

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.

Taoiseach Simon Harris continued, “Child benefit makes a huge impact on families across the country. As many families will know, child benefit is paid every first Tuesday of every monthly rate of €140 per child.

“I will continue to work in Government to find more ways to put money back into hard working families’ pockets.”

For people who need to update their payment details, the quickest and easiest way to change payment details is online at MyWelfare.ie here.