Question

How do I apply for Child Benefit for my new baby and when will it be paid?

Answer

When you register a birth in Ireland, the baby is allocated a Personal Public Service (PPS) Number. The Department of Social Protection automatically starts a claim for Child Benefit if the birth is registered within three months:

• If you are not already getting Child Benefit for another child, the Department creates a new claim and sends you a partially completed claim form for your signature and payment details. This form also tells you how to claim for your new baby online.

  (Please note that you can only claim online if the Department invites you to do so.)

• If you are already getting Child Benefit, your new baby is automatically added to your existing claim and payment begins from the month after the birth. The Department will send you a letter confirming payment.

If your child is not born in Ireland, or the birth is not registered within three months, you must fill in a Child Benefit form (CB1). Send the completed form by FREEPOST to the Child Benefit Section, Social Welfare Services, Department of Social Protection, St Oliver Plunkett Road, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal. Lo-call: 1890 400 400.

Child Benefit is paid from the month following your baby’s birth. It is paid on the first Tuesday of every month.

If there is any delay in processing your application the payment will be backdated to when you first applied. If you apply more than a year after your baby’s birth the payment may be backdated if you have a good reason for the late application.

Further information is available from Citizens Information Centres and from the Citizens Information Phone Service, call 0761 07 4000.

Know Your Rights columns cover topical subjects every month in a question-and-answer format. They are published by the Citizens Information Board online and syndicated through Citizens Information Services to local newspapers around Ireland.

Ceist

Conas a dhéanaim iarratas ar Shochar Linbh do mo leanbh nua agus cathain a íocfar é?

Freagra

Nuair a chláraíonn tú breith in Éirinn, leithdháiltear Uimhir Phearsanta Seirbhíse Poiblí (PSP) don leanbh. Tosaíonn an Roinn Coimirce Sóisialaí éileamh go huathoibríoch ar Shochar Linbh má chláraítear an bhreith laistigh de thrí mhí:

• Mura bhfuil Sochar Linbh á fháil cheana féin agat do leanbh eile, cruthaíonn an Roinn éileamh nua agus seolann siad éileamh chugat atá páirtchomhlíonta chun do shíniú agus chun do shonraí íocaíochta a fháil. Insíonn an fhoirm seo freisin duit conas éileamh a dhéanamh do do leanbh nua ar líne.

  (Tabhair faoi deara nach féidir leat éileamh a dhéanamh ar líne ach amháin má thugann an Roinn an rogha sin duit).

• Má tá Sochar Linbh á fháil cheana féin agat, cuirtear do leanbh nua go huathoibríoch le d’éileamh reatha agus tosaíonn an íocaíocht ón mí i ndiaidh na breithe. Ina theannta sin, seolfaidh an Roinn litir chugat a dhearbhaíonn an íocaíocht.

Murar saolaíodh do leanbh in Éirinn, nó mura gcláraítear an bhreith laistigh de thrí mhí, ní mór duit foirm um Shochar Linbh (CB1) a chomhlánú. Seol an fhoirm chomhlánaithe trí SHAORPHOST chuig an Rannóg an tSochair Linbh, Seirbhísí Leasa Shóisialaigh, an Roinn Coimirce Sóisialaí, Bóthar Oilibhéir Phluincéid Naofa, Leitir Ceanainn, Contae Dhún na nGall. Lóghlao: 1890 400 400.

Íoctar Sochar Linbh ón mí i ndiaidh bhreith do linbh. Íoctar é ar an gcéad Mháirt de gach mí.

Má bhíonn moill ar d’iarratas a phróiseáil, déanfar d’íocaíocht a shiardhátú chuig an tráth a chuir tú isteach air i dtosach. Má chuireann tú isteach air breis agus bliain tar éis bhreith do linbh, is féidir an íocaíocht a shiardhátú má tá údar maith agat leis an iarratas déanach.

Tá faisnéis le fáil freisin ar líne ag citizensinformation.ie agus ón tSeirbhís Ghutháin um Fhaisnéis do Shaoránaigh: 0761 07 4000.