This scheme is for people who spent time in a Mother and Baby or County Home institution in the Republic of Ireland. It is not a charity and it is not means-tested — it is calculated on how long you were there, and the Payment Scheme Office does the records search on your behalf.
We have set out the eligibility plainly because the two conditions that decide most applications are simple, and because a great many people assume they would not qualify. One night as a mother is enough for the general payment.
Quick facts
- Three benefits
- General payment · work-related payment · health supports
- As a mother
- At least one night in the institution
- As a child
- At least 180 days
- Work-related payment
- More than 90 days, mothers, and only in table 1 institutions
- Living abroad
- A health support payment valued at €3,000 instead of the medical card
- Records
- The Payment Scheme Office searches them for you
What the scheme pays
"There are three benefits available under the Payment Scheme: a general payment; a work-related payment; and health supports."
"The benefits available under the Payment Scheme are calculated based on how long a person spent in an institution. Using the information provided in the application form, the Payment Scheme Office will search the institutional records available in order to establish this for you."
That last sentence matters more than it looks. You are not required to prove the dates yourself from records you may never have seen.
Who is eligible
For the general payment, you qualify if you were in a listed institution "for at least one night, as a mother, for reasons relating to your pregnancy, or the birth or care of your child; or" "for at least 180 days, as a child."
One night. If you have discounted yourself because your stay was short, that is the line to read again.
For the work-related payment: "You are eligible for a work-related payment if you were in any of the institutions listed in table 1 on pages 10 and 11 for more than 90 days for reasons relating to pregnancy, or the birth or care of your child." It applies to mothers, and only to the table 1 institutions — so someone who was in a covered institution as a child is not eligible for it.
Applications can also be made "as a personal representative on behalf of the estate of an eligible person who passed away on or after 13 January 2021".
What is paid, by time spent
The booklet sets out a full table — "Payment rates based on time spent in a scheduled institution" — with a general payment column, a work-related payment column and a combined total, all in euro. Some rows, to show the shape of it:
"Up to and including 89 days (mothers only) 5,000 0 5,000"
"Between 90 - 179 days (mothers only) 10,000 1,500 11,500"
"Between 180 – 360 days 12,500 3,000 15,500"
"361 – 450 days inclusive 15,000 6,000 21,000"
and at the top of the scale, "Over 10 Years - 3601 days and upwards 65,000 60,000 125,000".
The booklet's own worked example shows how it lands in practice: "Therefore, Joan is entitled to the general payment for someone who spent 361-450 days in an eligible institution. This amounts to €15,000." And where both payments apply: "Therefore, Éilis is entitled to the general payment of €18,750 and the work-related payment of €10,500".
Health supports, and the medical card point people miss
If you live in Ireland you can apply for an enhanced medical card. If you live abroad: "for people living outside of Ireland only, a health support payment valued at €3,000, instead of the enhanced medical card."
And the note worth reading twice if you already hold a card: "NOTE: If you are already in possession of a means-tested medical card in Ireland, it may still be worthwhile to apply for the enhanced medical card under this Payment Scheme. This is because the enhanced medical card is not means-tested."
A means-tested card can be lost if your circumstances change. This one cannot. There is also a practical saving: "In addition, if you have a medical card you do not have to pay the €100 Emergency Department statutory charge."
One exclusion: if you received health supports under the Magdalen Restorative Justice Ex Gratia Scheme, you are not entitled to health supports through this scheme as well.
Two things that rule an application out
A court settlement. "If you have received a court settlement in respect of the circumstances experienced and relating to the same time period in the institution or institutions that is being applied for, you will not be eligible to apply for a general payment or work-related payment. However, you may still be eligible for health supports." Note the second sentence — health supports may still be available.
The institution, and the year. "If the institution(s) you spent time in is not on these tables, then the institution is not included in the Payment Scheme and you are not eligible."
And each institution carries a cut-off: "You will see that the tables include a ‘concluding year’. In order to be considered for benefits under the Payment Scheme, you will need to have entered the institution on or before the 31st of December of the concluding year."
How to apply
Online at paymentscheme.ie, or by post. If you want a paper form you can ring the Payment Scheme Office and they will send it out; in Ireland you can also get the form at your local Citizens Information Centre.
Support is available at every stage, and the application is handled confidentially. If this is difficult to face, it is worth knowing that the records search — usually the hardest part — is done for you.
Common questions
Who can apply to the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme?
People who spent time in a Mother and Baby or County Home institution in the Republic of Ireland that is listed in the scheme's tables. For the general payment that means at least one night as a mother, for reasons relating to pregnancy or the birth or care of your child, or at least 180 days as a child.
Is one night really enough?
For the general payment, yes — where you were there as a mother for reasons relating to your pregnancy, or the birth or care of your child. Many people rule themselves out because their stay was short.
What is the work-related payment?
An additional payment for mothers who were in one of the table 1 institutions for more than 90 days for reasons relating to pregnancy, or the birth or care of their child. Someone who was in an institution as a child is not eligible for it.
How much is paid?
It depends entirely on time spent. The booklet's table runs from the shortest qualifying stay up to over ten years, with a general payment column, a work-related payment column and a combined total. The Payment Scheme Office works out your band from the records.
What if I already have a medical card?
It may still be worth applying for the enhanced medical card under the scheme, because the enhanced card is not means-tested while an ordinary medical card is.
I live abroad — can I still apply?
Yes. Instead of the enhanced medical card, people living outside Ireland can apply for a health support payment valued at €3,000.
Does a previous court settlement stop me applying?
It stops the general payment and the work-related payment where the settlement related to the same circumstances and the same time period. You may still be eligible for health supports.
Can I apply on behalf of someone who has died?
Yes, as a personal representative on behalf of the estate of an eligible person who passed away on or after 13 January 2021.