Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme
A general payment of €5,000 to €65,000 depending on time spent, a work-related payment for mothers of €1,500 to €60,000, and an enhanced medical card, or €3,000 if you live abroad.
Last checked September 2026
What it is
A Government payment scheme for anyone who spent time as a mother or as a child in one of the 44 Mother and Baby or County Home institutions it lists, among them Tuam, Bessborough, Sean Ross Abbey, Castlepollard, Bethany Home, Pelletstown on the Navan Road, Dunboyne, Denny House, the Regina Coeli Hostel and 29 County Homes around the country. It recognises the impact that time in those institutions had on people's lives. There are three benefits. A general payment, for a mother who was there at least one night for reasons related to her pregnancy or the birth or care of her child, or a child who was there at least 180 days, running from €5,000 up to €65,000 for more than ten years. A work-related payment for mothers who were there more than 90 days in the institutions listed for it, from €1,500 up to €60,000, so the two together can reach €125,000. And health supports for anyone there 180 days or more: an enhanced medical card with no means test, or a once-off €3,000 health support payment if you live outside Ireland. It opened on 20 March 2024 and is still open, and you need no records, only the institution's name and your best estimate of the dates. The payments are not taxed and are not counted in Irish social welfare means tests, for the medical card or for Fair Deal. If the person died on or after 13 January 2021, the day of the State apology, their personal representative can apply for them. Apply online at paymentscheme.ie or on a paper form from the Payment Scheme Office, PO Box 13668, Waterford, which is also available at your local library or Citizens Information Centre. Freephone 1800 843 354 from Ireland, +353 1 522 9992 from abroad, 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday, or info@paymentscheme.ie. Everyone applying must provide a certified copy of photo ID, a passport, driving licence or Public Services Card, and the Free Travel card counts. Once your time in the institution is confirmed from the records you get a Notice of Determination with the offer, and you have up to six months to accept or reject it, 60 days to request a review, and a further 60 days for an independent appeal. Free professional counselling is available to former residents through the HSE National Counselling Service. If you were adopted or boarded out and do not know the institution, the Birth Information and Tracing Service can help.
Who can get it
- You spent time as a mother, for reasons related to pregnancy or the birth or care of your child, or as a child, in one of the 44 listed Mother and Baby or County Home institutions
- You entered the institution on or before 31 December of its concluding year, which ranges from 1932 to 1998 depending on the institution
- Or you are the personal representative of someone who qualified and died on or after 13 January 2021
- You can make one application only, covering every period you spent in listed institutions, and applications are dealt with in age order with the oldest first. Anyone who is terminally ill can ask to be prioritised.
- Accepting a payment means signing a legal waiver not to bring proceedings against a public body about the same circumstances, and you can get €500 (ex VAT) towards independent legal advice before you decide. A previous court settlement for the same period rules out the payments but not the health supports.
- Payments are ignored for Irish tax, social welfare means tests and Fair Deal, and on 13 March 2026 the UK Government confirmed they are ignored for UK means-tested benefits too.
How to apply
Applications go through Dept of Children, Disability and Equality. The official page has the full eligibility rules and the application itself.
Go to the official page →Checked against the official source on 9 September 2026. Always confirm the details on the official page before applying.
Questions people ask
How much is the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme?
The general payment runs from €5,000 to €65,000 depending on time spent, the work-related payment for mothers from €1,500 to €60,000, and together they can reach €125,000. Health supports are an enhanced medical card, or €3,000 if you live outside Ireland.
Is there a deadline to apply?
None is published. The scheme opened on 20 March 2024 and is open for applications, which are processed in age order with the oldest applicants first.
Can I apply for a parent who has died?
Yes, if they died on or after 13 January 2021. The personal representative of the estate applies, with the death certificate and proof of their right to act for the estate.
Related guides
- Carer's Allowance
- Carer's Support Grant
- Carer's Benefit
- Fuel Allowance
- MyFutureFund (Auto-Enrolment Retirement Savings)
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