Double child benefit for 650,000 families to be paid today 

Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys announces details of last week's cost-of-living lump sum payments, during a press conference at Baldoyle Community Hall, Dublin. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Some 650,000 families are receiving a double child benefit payment today.

The payment is part of the Government's cost-of-living package which was announced earlier this year as part of Budget 2024.

The measure means parents will get €280 per child, instead of the usual €140, and it will be paid in respect of over 1.2 million children across the State.

Confirming the payment details, Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys said: “I’m very pleased to announce that 650,000 families will receive a double child benefit payment on Tuesday to support them with the cost-of-living. This means that families will receive payments of €280 per child.

I am very conscious of the pressure families are under, particularly in the run-up to Christmas. Child benefit is one of the few tools within the Department of Social Protection that I can use to support working families. 

"I know from my days working in the Credit Union how much families depend on the monthly child benefit payment and I am delighted to announce details of this double payment which will support hundreds of thousands of hardworking families across the country.”

Barnardos national policy manager Stephen Moffatt said the double payment would make a big difference to families who are struggling.

"It is nearly two years since the cost-of-living crisis came about, so families have really been struggling for a long period of time. Reserves have run out, particularly for families on low fixed incomes. 

"This will alleviate some of those financial pressures for a short period, and allow parents to provide essential items for their children, which is slightly concerning that they need this lump sum to do that.

I was talking to a parent last week who is going to be able to use this money to buy their children new shoes, decent winter coats, and pay off some bills that have just built up over the last couple of months.

"It will reduce stress within the household, parents won't be double thinking every single purchase," he said.

Child benefit is paid to families with children up to the age of 16 years. However, the payment continues to be paid until a child's 18th birthday if they are in full-time education or have a disability.

Christmas bonus

Meanwhile, on Monday, a Christmas bonus was also paid to over 1.3 million people, including pensioners, carers, lone parents, and people with disabilities. 

Recipients of illness benefit for longer than 12 months will also receive the bonus, as they did in 2022.

Those eligible would have received their Christmas bonus alongside their weekly pension or other primary payment.

Elsewhere, the public will also be paid €150 in energy credits on January 1 and March 1. Another energy credit was paid on December 1. 

The renewed credit scheme, also announced in the budget, will go directly to 2.2 million households over the winter months.

For some households, it may take longer to see the credit on their bill because of the nature of the two-monthly billing cycle for electricity, it has been warned. 

However, the credits will be applied automatically. Households do not need to apply for them.