Irish Cabinet Approves Extension of Child Benefit to 18-Year-Olds in Full-Time Education or with Disabilities

The Irish Cabinet has approved the extension of child benefits to 18-year-olds from May 1 for those in full-time education or with disabilities, benefiting families of 60,000 teenagers. Learn about the €140 per month payment and its aim to support families amidst rising living costs.

The Cabinet has given the green light to extend child benefits to 18-year-olds, effective May 1, for those engaged in full-time education or living with disabilities. Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys highlighted that this measure will positively impact the families of approximately 60,000 18-year-olds.

Initially slated for introduction in September, Minister Humphreys revealed that advancements in IT infrastructure enable the earlier implementation of this initiative.

Child benefit, amounting to €140 per child per month, is being extended to accommodate the significant number of 18-year-olds still enrolled in secondary education while also aiming to alleviate the financial burden on families amidst the escalating cost of living.

Minister Humphreys intends to implement this change by amending a social welfare bill scheduled for discussion in the Seanad later this week.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, upon arriving for the Cabinet meeting, emphasized that this move acknowledges the growing trend of 18-year-olds remaining in education, whether in school or starting their first year of college. He underscored the financial strain of raising a teenager and affirmed that the child benefit payment will not be means-tested.

Louise Bayliss, founder of SPARK, hailed the decision as a “game changer,” addressing a longstanding policy gap that hindered economically disadvantaged children from completing their final year of school. She noted that financial constraints often forced students to drop out and seek alternative education pathways, perpetuating intergenerational poverty.

Ms Bayliss emphasized the transformative impact of extending child benefits to 18-year-olds, highlighting its potential to mitigate the cycle of poverty and promote educational attainment among disadvantaged youth.

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