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Guardian's Payment

Up to €237 a week for a person bringing up someone else's child.

Last checked October 2026

What it is

Up to €237 a week for anyone bringing up a child who is not their own. It is not only for children whose parents have died. A child also counts if one parent is dead, unknown or has abandoned them and failed to provide for them and the other parent is unknown or has abandoned them and failed to provide and the child is not living with a parent, adoptive parent or step-parent. Where a parent is living, a Deciding Officer decides whether they have abandoned the child and failed to provide. This can apply in kinship care, so grandparents, aunts, uncles, older brothers and sisters, family friends and neighbours may be able to claim. You do not need to be a legally appointed guardian. The child just has to live with you and be in your care. Two versions: Contributory, if either parent or step-parent ever paid 26 weeks of PRSI, with no means test. Non-Contributory, which depends on the child's own means rather than yours. The maximum for either is €237 a week. Paid until the child turns 18 (22 if in full-time education). You cannot claim this and the Foster Care Allowance together. Neither is taxed. Budget 2027: the weekly rate rises from €237 to €247 in 2027.

Who can get it

You are bringing up a child who is not your own. You do not have to be a relative, and you do not have to be a legally appointed guardian
Both parents have died, or one parent is dead, unknown or has abandoned the child and failed to provide for them, and the other is unknown or has abandoned them and failed to provide
For the Contributory version, either parent or step-parent paid PRSI for 26 weeks at any time and there is no means test. For the Non-Contributory version, the child's own means are assessed

Good to know

You do not have to be a legally appointed guardian. If the child lives with you and you are responsible for their care, you may be able to claim, whether you are a grandparent, another relative, a family friend or a neighbour.
It is not only for children whose parents have died. A child also counts if a parent is unknown, or has abandoned them and failed to provide for them.
Both versions pay up to €237 a week. Non-Contributory depends on the child's own means, so the difference is how you qualify as well as what you may get. You cannot claim this and the Foster Care Allowance together. Neither is taxed.

How to apply

Applications go through DSP. The official page has the full eligibility rules and the application itself.

Go to the official page →

Checked against the official source on 7 October 2026. Always confirm the details on the official page before applying.

Questions people ask

How much is the Guardian's Payment?

Up to €237 a week. The Non-Contributory version depends on the child's own means.

I am raising my grandchild. Can I claim it?

Quite possibly. The payment is not only for children whose parents have died. If a parent is dead, unknown or has abandoned the child and failed to provide for them and the other parent is unknown or has also abandoned them and failed to provide, the child may qualify, as long as the child is not living with a parent, adoptive parent or step-parent. Where a parent is living, a Deciding Officer decides whether they have abandoned the child and failed to provide. You do not need to be a legally appointed guardian. The child just has to live with you and be in your care. The same applies to an aunt, an uncle, an older brother or sister, a family friend or a neighbour.

Is the Guardian's Payment means tested?

The Contributory version is not, it is based on a parent's PRSI record. The Non-Contributory version is means tested on the child's own means rather than yours.

How long is it paid for?

Until the child turns 18, or 22 if they remain in full time education.

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