There are set to be some changes to Ireland's social welfare schemes from today, April 1.
Three of the schemes will experience changes, including the One-Parent Family Payment, the Parent's Benefit and Parents Benefit Scheme and The Treatment Benefit Scheme.
Here are the details of those changes.
One-Parent Family Payment
From April 1, a working lone parent will no longer lose their One-Parent Family Payment if their income exceeds the current €425 limit.
This will be a welcome change for lone parents who are working.
To qualify for a OFP you must:
- Be the parent, step-parent, adoptive parent or legal guardian of arelevant 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.
- OFP is not payable if the parents have joint equal custody of a child or children.
- Satisfy a means test.
- Be habitually resident (certain people, in particular EU nationals who are considered migrant workers, are exempt from the habitual residence condition).
- Not be living with a spouse, civil partner or cohabiting.
If you are separated, divorced or your civil partnership is dissolved you must:
- Have been living apart from your spouse or civil partner for at least three months. This does not apply to cohabitants.Have made efforts to get maintenance from your spouse or civil partner (if your civil partner is the parent of the child/children)
- Be inadequately maintained by your spouse or civil partner (if your civil partner is the parent of the child/children)
Parent’s leave and Parent's Benefit
Parent's leave and Parent's Benefit will be extended by three weeks for each parent.
Parents will now be able to take five weeks paid leave instead of two.
This is to allow parents to spend more time with their baby.
The period during which this leave can be taken is also set to be extended from 12 to 24 months, meaning it can be taken up to a child's second birthday or within two years following adoption.
Parent’s Benefit is paid while you are on parent’s leave from work if you have enough social insurance (PRSI) contributions.
Each parent is entitled to Parent’s Benefit during parent’s leave.
From April 1, Parent’s Benefit, which is currently €245 a week, will be paid in separate weekly blocks or can be paid over a consecutive
five-week period.
It is estimated that the increasing Parent’s Benefit by three weeks will benefit up to 30,000 parents at a cost of €22million in 2021.
You can only receive Parent's Benefit if you're on parent's leave, but it's possible to qualify for Parent's Leave and not qualify for
Parent's Benefit if your PSRI contributions don't add up to enough.
Parent’s Benefit is only paid once for both single and multiple births. For example, if you have twins or adopt two children at the
same time, you get one payment.
In Ireland, it is mandatory to notify your employer that you intend to take parent’s leave and of your intended dates no later than six weeks before your leave.
You then apply for Parent’s Benefit at least four weeks before the date you start your parent’s leave.
The Treatment Benefit Scheme
Under The Treatment Benefit Scheme, people who qualify are able to avail of dental, optical and aural services.
From April 1, the Department of Social Protection will provide a grant of up to €500 to buy hearing aids and up to €100 towards repairs will be provided under the scheme without requiring a matching payment by the claimant.
The Treatment Benefit Scheme is available to insured workers, self-employed and retired people who have the required number of PRSI contributions.
Under the Treatment Benefit Scheme, you may qualify for:
- Optical benefit
- Hearing aids
- Dental benefit
Be under 66 (at 66 you become eligible for a State pension)
