Thousands qualify for major bonus worth up to €3,200 under new scheme

Cost of living Ireland: Thousands qualify for major bonus worth up to €3,200 under new scheme

by · RSVP Live

Thousands qualify for a major bonus worth up to €3,200.

The newly launched Child Support Payment (CSP), which was previously called Increase for a Qualified Child, will rise 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.

The change comes into effect from January 2025 and it will be added on to a person’s weekly social welfare payment if they are considered eligible.

Read more: Social welfare Ireland: Five criteria to qualify for newly increased €360 payment that helps parents

Read more: Social welfare change-up leads to thousands more qualifying for €900 lump sum

You do not get a CSP with certain payments, and in some circumstances you may only get a half-rate CSP. If you have an adult dependant, you may get an Increase for a Qualified Adult.

How to qualify for a Child Support Payment?

To get an 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. An CSP can be paid on behalf of foster children.

However, you generally do not get an CSP if your child is getting their own social welfare payment, except in certain circumstances.

Four groups of people that will qualify for scheme worth over €2,000(Image: Collins)

When is an Child Support Payment not paid?

You do not get an 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

You do not get an 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)
Social welfare Ireland: Full list of people that qualify for cost of living benefit worth over €200Thousands of people are expecting to be paid a social welfare bonus worth over €200, with three payment schemes in line for the cost of living boost confirmed in Budget 2025Shauna Bannon Ward, 09 Nov 2024

How to apply?

To get an Child Support Payment, you must give details about your child dependant on your claim form when you apply for a social welfare payment.

If you did not claim for your child dependant at the time you made your claim, you should contact the section in the Department of Social Protection which pays your social welfare payment, or your local Intreo or Branch office.

You can find more details on this scheme here.