Child Benefit and the New Baby Grant in Ireland
Child Benefit is universal, untaxed and, for a baby born in Ireland, it mostly starts itself once you register the birth. Here are the 2026 amounts and the steps.
Updated October 13, 2026 · sources checked October 13, 2026
In short
Child Benefit in Ireland is €140 a month per child as of October 2026, paid on the first Tuesday of each month whatever your income, and it is not taxed. Twins get one and a half times the rate each. A one-off New Baby Grant of €280 per child comes with the first payment. Registering the birth within 3 months starts the claim.
The amounts, as of October 2026
| Number of children | Child Benefit per month |
|---|---|
| 1 | €140 |
| 2 | €280 |
| 3 | €420 |
| 4 | €560 |
| 5 | €700 |
| 6 | €840 |
| Multiple births | Rate |
|---|---|
| Twins | One and a half times the normal monthly rate for each child |
| Triplets or more | Double the normal monthly rate for each child |
| New Baby Grant | One-off amount |
|---|---|
| Per child born or adopted on or after 1 December 2024 | €280 |
| Twins | €560 |
Child Benefit is universal: you get it regardless of your income or PRSI record, and you do not pay tax on it. It is paid until 16, and until 18 for a child in full-time education or training or with a disability.
How your claim starts
Your baby is born in Ireland and you register the birth within 3 months:
- First child: the Child Benefit Section sends you a partly completed form CB1. It explains how to claim online, which you can do only if invited. Fill it in and return it.
- You already get Child Benefit for another child: your new baby is added to your claim automatically, and the Department writes to confirm when payment starts.
Your baby was born abroad, or you registered after 3 months: complete form CB1 and send it to the Child Benefit Section.
Apply within 12 months of the birth (or of the child joining your family, or of your family coming to live in Ireland).
Child Benefit Section, Department of Social Protection, St Oliver Plunkett Road, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, F92 T449. Phone (074) 916 4496 or 0818 300600, email Child.benefit@welfare.ie (as listed by Citizens Information, October 2026).
Who can get it
- You must live in Ireland and meet the Habitual Residence Condition.
- It is paid to the mother or stepmother. A father or stepfather can get it if the child does not live with the mother. If a child lives between two homes, it goes to the parent the child lives with most of the time, or to the mother if time is equal.
- If you care for a child who is not living with their parents, you may be able to get it too.
- You do not have to claim it. If you prefer not to, you can tell the Child Benefit Section.
Tell the Department about changes
Use form CB56 to report changes such as a new address, a new bank, your child no longer living with you, or moving abroad.
Other help to check once the baby is here
| Support | What it is | Our guide |
|---|---|---|
| Working Family Payment | Weekly tax-free top-up for employees with children on lower pay; Child Benefit does not count as income | Working Family Payment |
| GP visit card | Free GP visits for children until age 8 | Register your baby with your GP |
| Medical card for your baby | If you have a medical card and get Child Benefit | Apply through the HSE |
| Parent's Benefit | €299 a week for 9 weeks per parent (as of October 2026) | Parent's leave and benefit |
| National Childcare Scheme | Childcare subsidy from 6 months, universal €2.14 an hour (as of October 2026) | Apply on the NCS website |
Your checklist
Our Having a Baby in Ireland guide includes a money plan for your leave, with every payment and its date.
Questions parents ask
How much is Child Benefit in Ireland in 2026?
€140 a month for each child, as of October 2026. For twins, each child gets one and a half times the normal rate; for triplets and more, double the rate for each child.
When is Child Benefit paid?
On the first Tuesday of every month. If it is your first child, the first payment comes at the start of the month after your baby is born.
What is the New Baby Grant?
A one-off €280 per child (€560 for twins), paid with the first month of Child Benefit for children born or adopted on or after 1 December 2024. There is no separate application.
Who gets Child Benefit, the mother or the father?
It is paid to the mother or stepmother. The father or stepfather can get it if the child does not live with the mother. If a child lives equally with separated parents, it is paid to the mother.
Sources
- Citizens Information — Child Benefit (rates 2026, New Baby Grant, how to apply) checked October 13, 2026
- Citizens Information — Registering the birth of your baby checked October 13, 2026
- Citizens Information — Maternity and infant care services (GP visit card, medical card for your baby) checked October 13, 2026
Mamavela explains; it does not replace your midwife, doctor or pediatrician, who know your situation. If something worries you, call them. In an emergency, call 911 (US), 999 (UK) or 112.