Child Benefit in Ireland: how much is it and how do you get it?
The monthly rate, payment dates, twins, the New Baby Grant and how to claim for a new baby, from Citizens Information.
In short
Child Benefit is €140 a month for each child under 16, paid on the first Tuesday of every month whatever your income. Budget 2027 left it unchanged. For a new baby, registering the birth within 3 months starts the claim, and a once-off €280 New Baby Grant comes with the first payment.
- €140 a month per child (2 children €280, 3 children €420). Not means tested, not taxed.
- Paid on the first Tuesday of every month. Budget 2027: no change.
- Twins: one and a half times the rate each. Triplets or more: double the rate each.
- New baby: register the birth within 3 months and the claim starts; first-time parents get form CB1 in the post.
- New Baby Grant: €280 per baby, paid with the first month of Child Benefit.
Child Benefit is the first payment most new parents in Ireland get, and the questions come fast: how much, when, and do I have to apply. Here are the answers from Citizens Information, checked on 7 October 2026, the day after Budget 2027.
How much is Child Benefit in Ireland?
Child Benefit is €140 a month for each child. It is a universal payment, so you get it whatever your income or PRSI record, and you do not pay tax on it. Two children get €280 a month and three get €420. Budget 2027 left the rate unchanged at €140.
| Children | Child Benefit a month |
|---|---|
| 1 | €140 |
| 2 | €280 |
| 3 | €420 |
| 4 | €560 |
| 5 | €700 |
| 6 | €840 |
For what else changed for families on 6 October, see our guide to Budget 2027 for parents.
How much Child Benefit do you get for twins?
Twins are paid one and a half times the normal monthly rate for each child, so €210 each, or €420 a month for the pair. Triplets and other multiple births are paid at double the rate, €280 a month for each child. The New Baby Grant is paid for each baby too.
What is the New Baby Grant?
A once-off €280 for each child born or adopted on or after 1 December 2024, paid on top of the first month of Child Benefit. So the first payment for one new baby comes to €420: €140 Child Benefit plus the €280 grant. Twins get a grant of €560 between them.
How do I apply for Child Benefit for a new baby?
Register your baby's birth within 3 months. The Department of Social Protection then gives your baby a PPS number and starts the Child Benefit claim. For a first child you get a partly completed form CB1 in the post, with details of how to claim online. For a later child, the baby is added automatically.
You can only claim online if the Department invites you to. If you already get Child Benefit for an older child, the Department writes to confirm when payment for the new baby starts.
If your baby was born outside Ireland, or the birth was not registered within 3 months, fill in form CB1 yourself and send it to the Child Benefit Section (contact details below).
How long do I have to apply for Child Benefit?
Apply within 12 months of your baby being born, of a child joining your family, or of your family coming to live in Ireland. For a baby born here, registering the birth within 3 months starts the claim for you, so most parents have nothing extra to do apart from returning form CB1.
When is Child Benefit paid?
On the first Tuesday of every month. If you have never had Child Benefit before, your first payment comes at the start of the month after your baby is born. If you already get it for older children, the Department of Social Protection writes to you to confirm when payment for the new baby starts.
Who gets Child Benefit, the mother or the father?
It is paid to the child's mother or stepmother. The father or stepfather can get it if the child does not live with their mother. If parents live apart, it goes to the parent the child lives with most of the time, and to the mother if time is shared equally.
To get Child Benefit you must live in Ireland and meet the habitual residence condition. You can also get it if you are caring for a child who is not living with their parents.
Can I get Child Benefit if I am not Irish?
Yes, if you live in Ireland and meet the habitual residence condition; your child does not have to be an Irish citizen. EU and EEA citizens working here meet that condition automatically. If you work in the UK and live in Ireland, you keep UK Child Benefit and get an Irish top-up.
If you work in Ireland and live in the UK, you can keep getting Irish Child Benefit. If your child lives in another EU or EEA country, also apply for any family payment in that country.
How long is Child Benefit paid for?
Until your child turns 16. It continues for children aged 16, 17 and 18 who are in full-time education or training, or who have a disability and cannot support themselves; you use form CB2, stamped by the school, college, training body or a doctor. It stops at 19, even in education.
Do I need to tell them if something changes?
Yes, in writing, using form CB56. Tell the Department of Social Protection if you move house, change bank or post office, your child stops living with you, you or your children move abroad, or you or your partner start work in another country. A 16 to 18 year old leaving full-time education counts too.
How do I contact the Child Benefit Section?
Phone (074) 916 4496 or 0818 300600, Monday to Friday from 9.15am to 4pm, or email Child.benefit@welfare.ie. The postal address is Child Benefit Section, Department of Social Protection, Social Welfare Services Office, St Oliver Plunkett Road, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, F92 T449.
Your local Intreo Centre or Citizens Information Centre can also help you fill in the forms. Citizens Information is on 0818 07 4000, Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm.
What other payments can I get when my baby arrives?
Most working parents can also claim Maternity Benefit and Paternity Benefit, and later Parent's Benefit; our maternity leave guide explains each. Lullagram's free pregnancy section lists your Irish dates and entitlements week by week, so nothing is missed before the baby comes.
The pregnancy section is free on Android, iPhone and web, and the baby tracker is ready in the same app when your baby arrives. Rates and rules can change: always check the current figures with Citizens Information or the Department of Social Protection before you rely on them.
Sources and guidance
This guide is written from Citizens Information. It is general information for people in Ireland, not financial or legal advice. Links checked 7 October 2026.
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