One-Parent Family Payment
Up to €254 a week, plus an extra Child Support Payment for each child.
Last checked June 2026
What it is
Support for parents raising a child on their own.
Who can get it
- You are under 66 and the main carer of at least one child who lives with you
- You are a parent, step-parent, adoptive parent or legal guardian
- You pass a means test
- You are not living with a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant
- The payment normally stops when your youngest child turns 7. It can continue longer if you also get Domiciliary Care Allowance, Blind Pension or Carer's Allowance.
- Child maintenance you receive is no longer counted in the means test.
- If you are separated or divorced, you need to be living apart for at least three months before you apply.
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 14 June 2026. Always confirm the details on the official page before applying.
Questions people ask
What is the One Parent Family Payment?
It is a weekly payment for a parent raising a child on their own. It is means-tested.
How long is it paid?
It is generally paid while your youngest child is under a set age, after which you may move to another support. The official page explains the age rules and the means test.
Related guides
- National Childcare Scheme
- ECCE (free preschool)
- Child Benefit
- Working Family Payment
- Back to Work Family Dividend
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