The Parent’s Benefit in Ireland is a payment made by the Irish government to a parent who takes time off work to care for a new-born baby or newly adopted child. It forms part of the Parent’s Leave scheme, whereby each parent has the right to leave during the first two years of their child’s life or within two years of adoption placement.
Ireland Parent’s Benefit
Parents’ Benefit in Ireland can be understood as a system of financial support designed to allow either the father or mother to take time off work solely to care for a new baby or newly adopted child. Parents’ Benefit is made as a weekly payment to eligible parents who take parents’ leave from work.
This leave may be taken at any time in the first two years following the birth or adoption of a child. Both parents are entitled to Parent’s Benefit provided they satisfy the conditions of qualification for it.
This benefit is payable by the Department of Social Protection and is available to qualified employees and to the self-employed paying PRSI contributions. As of 2024, the weeks for Parent’s Benefit were increased from 7 to 9 weeks for each parent. It is payable at a standard rate of €274 per week.
Eligibility for Ireland Parent’s Benefit
To qualify for Parent’s Benefit in Ireland, you:
You must be the child’s birth mother, adoptive parent, or the partner of the birth mother or adoptive parent.
- The child must have been born or adopted on or after 1 November 2019.
- You must be in work or self-employment at present.
- PRSI contributions: You must have paid sufficient Pay Related Social Insurance contributions. The actual conditions are different for different situations and according to your work record.
- Normally, you would have to make at least 39 weeks of PRSI contributions in the 12 months before your Parent’s Benefit is due to come into payment.
- If you have been receiving Maternity Benefit, Adoptive Benefit, or Paternity Benefit for the same child, you are automatically entitled to PRSI contributions.
- On leave: You must be on Parent’s Leave from work to qualify for Parent’s Benefit.
- Multiple births: In the case of twins or more, the same amount of Parent’s Benefit is paid per child.
- Shared benefit: Both parents are entitled to Parent’s Benefit, and you can share the benefit between you.
Ireland Parent’s Benefit Timeline
The duration of Parent’s Benefit has been increased from 7 weeks to 9 weeks for every parent. This includes:
- Children born or adopted on or after 1 August 2024
- Children under 2 years old in August 2024
- Adoptive children for whom the adoptive placement began less than 2 years before 1 August 2024
Both of your parents can claim Parent’s Benefit, and you can decide how to divide the 9 weeks between you in whatever way is most suitable for your family. This is to say, one parent may take 6 weeks, with another parent taking 3, or you could both take 4.5 weeks.
- Total entitlement: Each parent can claim up to 9 weeks of Parent’s Benefit.
- Flexibility: You can take the benefit in consecutive weeks or spread it out over the first two years of your child’s life.
- Sharing: Parents can agree to share the benefit.
Ireland Parent’s Benefit Amount
Standard Parent’s Benefit Rate
- €274 per week: This is the standard payment for Parent’s Benefit in Ireland.
Additional Payments for Dependents
- Comparing Parent’s Benefit and Illness Benefit Rates This amount may be affected by the number of your dependents.
- The Department of Social Protection will compare the rate of your Parent’s Benefit with the rate that you would get for Illness Benefit, plus any Increase for Qualified Adult or Increase for Qualified Child, as if you were ill.
- The Higher of the Two Rates You will be paid the higher of the two rates – either Parent’s Benefit or the rate arrived at from a comparison with Illness Benefit.
- The case is that Illness Benefit will be of lesser amount, having a maximum personal rate of €232, but it does contain extra payments for family members.
- Dependents and Payment: The exact amount depends upon your spouse, civil partner, cohabitant situation, and the number of children you have.
- Adult Dependants: If your adult dependant receives a social welfare payment then you can get a half-rate Increase for a Qualified Child but no Increase for a Qualified Adult.
- Full-Rate Payments: You will qualify for full-rate IQA and IQC if your adult dependant is unemployed or has earnings of less than €100.01 a week.
- Tapered Rates: You receive reduced IQA and full-rate IQC when your adult dependent has an earning between €100.01 and €310 per week.
- No Extra Payments: You do not receive any IQA and IQC when your adult dependent earns more than €400 per week.
How to Apply for Parent’s Benefits Online in Ireland?
You are now able to claim the benefit of Parent’s Benefit through an online facility, MyWelfare online portal. Just follow this step-by-step approach:
- First off, if you haven’t already, you’re going to need to sign up for a MyGovID account. It’s an online identification system the government uses for accessing services.
- After you have your MyGovID, just log into the MyWelfare portal.
- Go to Parent’s Benefit, and then proceed with the application for this.
- You will be requested to record your personal details, which include:
- Your PPSN
- PPSN for your child
- Employment information
- Contact details of employer
- Bank account information
- Start and end dates of your parent’s leave
- You will likely be asked to upload supporting documents including
- Proof of work
- Adoption certificate, if applicable
- Check your application form carefully before sending it.
- Apply on Time: You should apply at least four weeks before your parent’s leave starts.
- You will get an acknowledgment of your claim and details about how to pay.