THE parents of December babies WILL get the new €420 baby boost Child Benefit payment, the Minister for Social Protection has confirmed.
The Government confirmed the major U-turn just one day after the new triple Child Benefit baby cash was announced for January in Budget 2025.
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Concerns had been raised that the parents of newborns who arrive in December would miss out on the baby boost, as well as the two double Child Benefit payments due to be issued to all parents in November and December.
But Minister Heather Humphreys said after being contacted by many women due babies in December and working with Government colleagues, the payment WILL now be paid out in respect of December babies and will be issued in January.
She told the Dail: “As a mother, I do not want to see any woman miss out.
“Don’t worry the Christmas babies will be looked after.”
The Minister later tweeted: “Pleased to have worked with colleagues across Government including Roderic O’Gorman and Alan Farrell, on this issue. Important that no family or baby misses out.”
Wexford Labour Councillr George Lawlor had earlier called on the Government to amend the plan to include December babies.
He said: “The government has made much of the proposals to pay two double Child Benefit payments this winter, and to introduce a Newborn Baby Grant for children born after January 1, 2025.
“Any baby born in December will be excluded from this bonanza as Child Benefit is not paid in the month that a child is born. They will miss out on the two double payments, and not be eligible for the Newborn Baby Grant.
“Babies born in October will be eligible for the double payments in November and December, and those born in November will receive a December double boost.
“I’m sure the Minister for Social Protection did not mean to exclude December babies and she still has time to fix it.
“Labour in our Alternative Budget proposals called for Child Benefit to be paid in the month a child is born costing €8million a year.”
Mr Lawlor had said dates were “unfair” on parents of Christmas babies.
He added: “It is really unfair that parents of Christmas babies will not get an extra boost this December when all other children will.
“The Minister should make the newborn baby grant retrospective to Budget Day, and provide for child benefit to be paid in the month a child is born.”
BUDGET 2025 MEASURES – WHAT DOES IT DO FOR YOU?
ONE-OFF PAYMENTS:
- €250 electricity credits – 2 x €125 with one paid in 2024 and one in 2025
- Double week for all long-term weekly social welfare recipients in October
- €300 Fuel Allowance lump sum in November
- €200 Living Alone Allowance lump sum this winter
- Double month of Child Benefit in November AND December
- €400 Working Family Payment lump sum this winter
- €100 Qualified Child Increment lump sum this winter
- Social welfare Christmas bonus in first week of December
- €400 lump sum to selected welfare categories this winter
- Double payment of Foster Care Allowance in December
TAX MEASURES:
- €125 Increase in the Main Tax Credits
- €2,000 Increase in the Standard Rate Cut-off Point
- €150 Increase in the Home Carer Tax Credit
- €150 Increase in the Single Child Carer Credit
- €300 Increase in the Incapacitated Child Tax Credit
- €300 Increase in the Blind person Credit
- Reduction in the four per cent USC rate to three per cent
- Increase in the Rent Tax Credit from €750 to €1,000
- Increase in the Excise Duty and VAT on a pack of cigarettes by €1 – bringing price to €18.05
- VAT on Heat Pumps decreased to nine per cent
- Sea-going Naval Personnel Tax credit extension
