€140 Child Benefit ‘payment will be suspended' alert for Irish parents in 28-day warning amid social welfare cash review
SOME 650,000 Irish parents have been warned that their monthly €140 Child Benefit "payment will be suspended" if they fail to fill out a review form.
The form is part of on-going control measures carried out periodically to confirm that
1
The €140 payment could be suspended for some parents
Credit: Getty Images
The Department of Social Protection can also initiate a review when it is notified of any changes in the circumstances of the customer or child which may affect entitlement.
The form, which is sent out via post, must be completed and returned within 28 days of being received.
And the Department of Social Protection has warned that the cash, which is
The form requires parents or guardians receiving the universal
READ MORE IN MONEY
Claimants are also required to confirm that both they and the child they are claiming for are resident in the State and detail any change in circumstances that could affect their Child Benefit claim.
The form also asks the applicant to declare that all the information provided is truthful and complete, warning those who give untrue or misleading information, or fail to disclose relevant details, that they may be required to repay the cash or be prosecuted.
The warning comes after it was confirmed that an August double payment of Child Benefit, worth €240, promised by Fine Gael leader
Instead, the Department of Social Protection said the Government is focusing on a "targeted" Child Benefit payment designed to help those who need it most.
Most read in The Irish Sun
In a post on Instagram, Harris said: "A double child benefit payment every August to help parents with costs, particularly around the costs of schools and the additional costs parents often face over the summer.
Major warning over emergency social welfare scam texts as thousands could be targeted
"Please share to spread the word. I need your support for
However, when asked if the double August Child Benefit is being considered, the Department of Social Protection confirmed that the boost is not outlined in the Programme for Government.
A spokesperson told The Irish Sun: "The Programme for Government commitments relating to Child Benefit are to:
Continue to support families with the cost of raising their family through the Child Benefit payment, and
Explore a targeted Child Benefit payment and examine the interaction this would have with existing targeted supports to reduce Child Poverty such as the Working Family Payment and Child Support Payment.
"The Department is working to advance these commitments and, in any event, schemes, including Child Benefit, are kept under review in the context of the annual budget process."
WHAT ARE CHILD BENEFIT RULES?
Child Benefit is a tax free payment to parents or guardians of children under 16.
But it can also be claimed for children aged 16, 17 and 18 if they are in full-time education or full-time training or have a disability and cannot support themselves.
CHILD BENEFIT PAYMENT DATES
THIS is a full list of all the Child Benefit payment dates for the rest of the year.
The €140 payment, which is available regardless of a person's income or PRSI record, is paid out on the first Tuesday of every month.
However, the payment can
3rd June - may be paid early due to June Bank Holiday
1st July
5th August - may be paid early due to August Bank Holiday
2nd September
7th October
4th November
2nd December
You must also be living in Ireland and meet the Habitual Residence Condition to claim the payment.
The Department of Social Protection
If your child lives between two separate households, the parent who lives with the child most of the time will receive the payment.
Someone who cares for a child not living with or being maintained by their parents may also be able to claim Child Benefit.
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