One-Parent Family Payment is a payment for parents under 66 who are not cohabiting, and whose youngest child is under 7.
You will stop getting One-Parent Family Payment when your youngest child turns 7.
There are exceptions to this:
- Domiciliary Care Allowance: your One-Parent Family Payment may continue until the child you are getting the Domiciliary Care Allowance for turns 16 or your youngest child turns 7, whichever is later
- Blind Pension: your One-Parent Family Payment may continue until your youngest child turns 16
- Carer's Allowance: your One-Parent Family Payment may continue until your youngest child turns 16 or until your Carer’s Allowance stops, whichever is earlier
- Recent Bereavement: if your spouse or civil partner has died, you can claim One-Parent Family Payment for up to two years after the date of death or until your youngest child turns 18, whichever is earlier
To qualify for One-Parent Family Payment, you must:
- be under 66
- be the parent, step-parent, adoptive parent or legal guardian of a relevant child (this means a child under the relevant age limit)
- be the main carer of at least one relevant child. The child must live with you. You cannot get One-Parent Family Payment if you have joint equal custody of a child or children
- satisfy a means test
- not be living with a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant
If you are separated, divorced or your civil partnership is dissolved, you must be living apart for at least three months before you apply for One-Parent Family Payment. You may be required to make efforts to seek maintenance from your former partner.
The maximum rate of One-Parent Family Payment is €208 a week, plus the rate for any qualified child(ren).
Widowed or a surviving civil partner
If you are widowed or a surviving civil partner, you should apply within three months of your spouse’s or civil partner’s death.
Single
If you are single, you should apply within three months of the birth of your child.
Separated, divorced or no longer in a civil partnership
If you are separated, divorced or no longer in a civil partnership, you must be living apart for three months. You should apply within three to six months of the date you separated from your spouse or civil partner.
Prisoner’s spouse or civil partner
If you are a prisoner’s spouse or civil partner, you should apply when your spouse or civil partner:
- has been in custody for at least six months without being sentenced
or
- starts their sentence, which must be for a term of at least six months
To apply, fill in the form below and return it and any supporting documents to your local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office.
Operational guidelines describe the processes and procedures that staff in the department follow when carrying out their work.
