Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys has announced the extension of Child Benefit to 18-year-olds from May 1st.
The measure will benefit around 60,000 children who are in full-time education or who have a disability.
Humphreys secured an agreement to extend Child Benefit to 18-year-olds as part of Budget 2024 with the measure due to be implemented from September.
However, the Minister today secured Cabinet approval to introduce the changes four months earlier from May 1st.
This means that Child Benefit will be paid to anyone who is 18 and in full-time education, or who has a disability, up until their 19th birthday.
Child Benefit is paid at a rate of €140 per month.
Speaking after the Cabinet meeting, Minister Humphreys said:
“I’m delighted today to have secured agreement from my Cabinet colleagues to extend Child Benefit to 18-year-olds from May 1st.
“This will benefit thousands of families right across the country, who up until now saw their Child Benefit cease as soon as their child turned 18.
“This measure was initially due to come into effect in September. However, I informed Cabinet today that my Department is in a position to implement the change from May.
“We expect that in the region of 60,000 children will benefit as a result of the changes that I am announcing today.”
Minister Humphreys continued:
“Child Benefit is a vital support for so many working families. And I know, from my days working in a Credit Union, just how much families depend on Child Benefit.
“This particular change that I am announcing today reflects the fact that many children nowadays don’t finish secondary school until after they turn 18.
“This could be because a child started school at the age of five, or perhaps because they opted to take part in Transition Year.
“That’s why this measure is so important in terms of supporting tens of thousands of additional families with the cost of living and putting more money back in their pockets.”