Know Your Rights

Wednesday, 30th May 2012

Claiming Child Benefit

Question: How do I apply for Child Benefit for my new baby and when will it be paid?

Answer: When you register a birth in Ireland, the baby is allocated a Personal Public Service (PPS) Number. The Department of Social Protection automatically starts a claim for Child Benefit if the birth is registered within three months:

- If you are not already getting Child Benefit for another child, the Department creates a new claim and sends you a partially completed claim form for your signature and payment details. This form also tells you how to claim for your new baby online.

(Please note that you can only claim online if the Department invites you to do so.)

- If you are already getting Child Benefit, your new baby is automatically added to your existing claim and payment begins from the month after the birth. The Department will send you a letter confirming payment.

If your child is not born in Ireland, or the birth is not registered within three months, you must fill in a Child Benefit form (CB1). Send the completed form by FREEPOST to the Child Benefit Section, Social Welfare Services, Department of Social Protection, St Oliver Plunkett Road, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal. Lo-call: 1890 400 400.

Child Benefit is paid from the month following your baby's birth. It is paid on the first Tuesday of every month.

If there is any delay in processing your application the payment will be backdated to when you first applied. If you apply more than a year after your baby's birth the payment may be backdated if you have a good reason for the late application.

Further information is available from the Citizens Information Centre below.