Working Family Payment in Ireland: limits, amounts and maternity leave
If you work and your family income is modest, the Working Family Payment can add a tax-free amount every week for a year. A new baby can make you newly eligible.
Updated October 13, 2026 · sources checked October 13, 2026
In short
Working Family Payment is a weekly, tax-free payment for employees with at least one child, working 38 hours or more per fortnight (a couple can combine hours), whose family income is below a limit: €765 a week with 1 child as of October 2026. It pays 60% of the gap, at least €20 a week, for 52 weeks. Apply on MyWelfare.ie.
Who can get it
You can get Working Family Payment (WFP, formerly Family Income Supplement) if you are an employee and:
- you work at least 38 hours per fortnight, in any combination; you can add your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant's hours to yours (self-employment and some schemes do not count);
- your job is likely to last at least 3 months;
- at least one child under 18 (or 18 to 22 in full-time day education) normally lives with you or is supported by you;
- your average weekly family income is below the limit for your family size;
- you pay tax and PRSI in Ireland.
Income limits, as of October 2026
| Children | Weekly family income must be below |
|---|---|
| 1 | €765 |
| 2 | €866 |
| 3 | €967 |
| 4 | €1,058 |
| 5 | €1,184 |
| 6 | €1,300 |
| 7 | €1,436 |
| 8 or more | €1,532 |
These limits apply from January 2026. Budget 2027 raises them by €30 a week for all family sizes from January 2027.
How much you get
WFP pays 60% of the difference between your assessable family income and the limit for your family size, with a minimum of €20 a week.
Worked example with the 2026 limit: a couple with 1 child and an assessable income of €665 a week is €100 under the €765 limit, so WFP would be 60% of €100, which is €60 a week. Your own figure depends on how the Department assesses your income.
Assessable income is mainly earnings after tax, employee PRSI, USC and pension contributions, plus other income such as most social welfare payments. Child Benefit does not count, nor do Fuel Allowance, maintenance paid for a child, or the Domiciliary Care Allowance, among others.
WFP and your new baby
- On maternity, paternity, adoptive or parent's leave, you are treated as if you were at work, so you can claim or keep WFP if you meet the conditions and already have a child.
- First baby: a pregnant woman with no other children does not qualify until the baby is born. After the birth, the baby counts as your qualifying child.
- WFP and Maternity Benefit (and Paternity, Adoptive and Parent's Benefit) can be paid together.
- WFP stops if you take additional unpaid maternity leave, give up your job, or lose your job after returning.
- A new child during your award can lead to a reassessment and an increase.
Extras that come with WFP
- From 1 January 2026, people getting WFP are treated as meeting the means test for Fuel Allowance, paid automatically if no one else in the household gets it.
- You may also qualify for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance.
- WFP is not counted in the means test for a medical card.
How to apply
- Online on MyWelfare.ie with a verified MyGovID, with your bank details and your employer's registration number (on your payslip, or ask your employer).
- By post with form WFP1 from your Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office; staff there or at a Citizens Information Centre can help.
- It is awarded for 52 weeks. Renew within 4 weeks of the end so the new claim starts on time.
Childcare: the National Childcare Scheme
When you go back to work, the National Childcare Scheme helps with the cost of a Tusla-registered provider for children from 6 months (24 weeks) to under 15. As of October 2026, the universal subsidy is €2.14 an hour for up to 45 hours a week, and an income-assessed subsidy is open to families with income below €68,000. You apply online on the NCS website with a verified MyGovID and your child's PPS number.
Your checklist
Our Having a Baby in Ireland guide includes a money plan that puts every payment and its date on one page.
Questions parents ask
Can I get Working Family Payment while on maternity leave?
Yes, if you meet the conditions and already have a child: you are treated as if you were at work during maternity, paternity, adoptive or parent's leave. A pregnant woman with no other children qualifies only once the baby is born. It stops during unpaid additional maternity leave.
Is Working Family Payment taxable?
No. Working Family Payment is a weekly tax-free payment. Child Benefit is not counted as income when your entitlement is worked out.
Can self-employed parents get Working Family Payment?
No, you must be an employee. Hours in self-employment do not count towards the 38 hours per fortnight, but a partner's hours as an employee can be combined with yours.
How long does Working Family Payment last?
It is awarded for 52 weeks and does not change if your pay goes up or down during that year. Apply to renew within 4 weeks of it ending.
Sources
- Citizens Information — Working Family Payment (income limits from January 2026, Budget 2027) checked October 13, 2026
- Citizens Information — Maternity Benefit (Working Family Payment alongside) checked October 13, 2026
- Citizens Information — National Childcare Scheme (rates 2026) 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.