Just had a baby? Here's every euro you may be able to claim

A new baby comes with a blur of forms — and a surprising amount of money that nobody hands you a checklist for. Here it is: every payment a new parent in Ireland may be able to claim in 2026, in the order you'll need them. Between Maternity Benefit (€299 a week), the €280 Newborn Grant and Child Benefit (€140 a month), this list is worth thousands.

Maternity Benefit — €299 a week for 26 weeks

If you've been working and paying PRSI, Maternity Benefit pays €299 a week for 26 weeks — apply at least 6 weeks before your leave starts.

The PRSI conditions are easier than people fear — broadly 39 weeks paid in the year before leave (other routes exist, including for self-employed parents, who should apply 12 weeks ahead). Apply online at mywelfare.ie with form MB1; your doctor confirms the due date and your employer confirms the leave. Some employers top your pay up to full salary — check your contract.

The €280 Newborn Grant most parents haven't heard of

Babies born on or after 1 December 2024 get a once-off €280 Newborn Baby Grant — paid automatically with your first Child Benefit.

No separate application: register the birth and it arrives with your first Child Benefit payment — which is why that first payment is usually €420 (€280 grant + €140 first month).

Child Benefit — €140 a month, automatically started

Register the birth within 3 months and the Department starts your Child Benefit claim for you — including your baby's PPS number.

Ireland's one genuinely automatic payment: register the birth, and the DSP issues the baby's PPS number and (for a first child) sends you a part-completed claim to confirm online. Paid the first Tuesday of every month, and worth checking it actually starts — it isn't backdated more than 12 months. Full details in our Child Benefit guide.

Paternity and Parent's leave — the payments for the other parent

The other parent can claim 2 weeks' Paternity Benefit plus 9 weeks' Parent's Benefit each — at the same €299 weekly rate.

Both are claimed at mywelfare.ie like Maternity Benefit. Parent's leave belongs to each parent separately (use it or lose it) and can be taken any time in the child's first two years — a lot of families never claim the second parent's nine weeks.

The rest of the checklist

Free GP visits until 8, the Working Family Payment top-up, and — if you're on a low income or one wage — several supports worth checking the moment the baby arrives.

• GP visit card — automatic and free for every child under 8
• Working Family Payment — a new baby changes your income limit, so families who "earned too much" before often qualify after
• One-Parent Family Payment if you're parenting alone
• Additional Needs Payment if the arrival has caused genuine financial strain

General information, not financial or legal advice. Rules and amounts change — confirm the current details on the official source (Gov.ie, HSE.ie or Citizens Information) before you claim.