Gov.ie - Back to Work Family Dividend

1. What the Back to Work Family Dividend is
2. How to qualify
3. Rates of payment
4. Apply
5. Operational Guidelines

What the Back to Work Family Dividend is

The Back to Work Family Dividend scheme is a weekly payment for every child in your family, to help families to move from social welfare into work. It gives financial support to people with qualified children who are in or take up employment or self-employment and stop claiming a Jobseeker's Payment or a One-Parent Family Payment.

A qualified child is a child up to age 18, who is normally resident in the State and who is living with you.

A child aged between 18 and 22, who is normally resident in the State, continues to be a qualified child if they are in full-time education by day at a recognised school or college.

How to qualify

You may be eligible for the scheme if you have at least one qualified child and are getting one of these payments.

Jobseeker's Allowance or Jobseeker's Benefit for at least 12 months (312 days of unemployment) of which at least 6 months (156 days of unemployment) must have been in the last year
One-Parent Family Payment
Jobseeker's Transitional Payment (paid to people who are not cohabiting and have children over six and under 14 years old)

To qualify for Back to Work Family Dividend:

you must stop getting these payments
you must start work within four weeks of stopping your original payment or scheme
your work must also be in the Irish State

If you get the One-Parent Family Payment and you are employed or self-employed, you may be able to get the Back to Work Family Dividend when your One-Parent Family Payment stops. You will not be able to sign on to another social welfare payment such as Jobseeker's Allowance.

If you get the Working Family Payment, you may also be able to get the Back to Work Family Dividend. The scheme will not affect your Working Family Payment.

Rates of payment

Back to Work Family Dividend is paid every week for up to two years.

	Under 12	Over 12
Year 1	€34.00 a week for each child to a maximum of €136.00 (four children)	€37.00 a week for each child to a maximum of €148.00 (four children)
Year 2	€17.00 a week for each child to a maximum of €68.00 (four children)	€18.50 a week for each child to a maximum of €74.00 (four children)

Apply

To apply, fill in the form below and return it, with the relevant supporting documentation, to your local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office.