Family 1
MY CHILD

 

This is a new website for parents. It contains information and advice on pregnancy and the first 3 years of your child’s life.

The site was created after research with parents and parents-to-be across Ireland.

Designed for parents, by parents

Expert advice:

Healthcare professionals wrote the content.

They include:

  • doctors
  • nurses
  • midwives
  • psychologists
  • parenting experts
  • dietitians

If you have a suggestion or feedback, you can  email digital@hse.ie

Partnership

The website was made possible by a partnership and grant funding from the Atlantic Philanthropies. This enabled the Nurture Programme: Infant Health and Wellbeing to be established. It is a 3-year programme. It is improving information and supports for parents during pregnancy and the first 3 years of their child’s life.

The Nurture Programme is a partnership between:

  • HSE
  • Atlantic Philanthropies
  • Katharine Howard Foundation
  • Centre for Effective Services

The Nurture Programme is a quality improvement programme for the National Healthy Childhood Programme.

 

CHILD BENEFIT

Child Benefit is a monthly payment to the parents or guardians of children under 16 years of age. It is paid for children under 18 years of age if they are in full-time education, full-time training or have a disability and cannot support themselves. Child Benefit is not paid for any child dependant aged 18 or older, even if they stay in education or training.

For twins, Child Benefit is paid at one and a half times the normal monthly rate for each child. For triplets and other multiple births, Child Benefit is paid at double the normal monthly rate for each child.

Child Benefit is not taxable.

FAMILY INCOME SUPPLEMENT

Working Family Payment (WFP) (formerly known as Family Income Supplement (FIS)) is a weekly tax-free payment available to employees with children. It gives extra financial support to people on low pay. You must be an employee to qualify for WFP and you cannot qualify if you are only self-employed.

You must have at least one child who normally lives with you or is financially supported by you. Your child must be under 18 years of age or between 18 and 22 years of age and in full-time education. (Your child continues to qualify until the end of the academic year if they turn 22 while in full-time education.)

To qualify for WFP, your average weekly family income must be below a certain amount for your family size. The payment you receive is 60% of the difference between your average weekly family income and the income limit which applies to your family. For more information about average family income see ‘Rates’ below.

Your Working Family Payment is not taxed. If you are getting WFP you may also be entitled to the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance. Your income from WFP is not taken into account in the assessment for a medical card.

The Back to Work Family Dividend (BTWFD) and WFP can be paid together and the BTWFD will not be taken into account in the income test for WFP.

 

ONE PARENT PAYMENT

One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) is a payment for men and women under 66 who are bringing children up without the support of a partner. To get this payment you must meet certain conditions and you must satisfy a means test. One-Parent Family Payment is a taxable source of income.

A Back to Work Family Dividend is available for lone parents and long-term jobseeker families with children who find or return to work.

 

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WELFARE
ONE FAMILY
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