The One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) is a weekly payment for parents who are bringing up a child without a partner. It’s means-tested, you can do some work and keep part of it, and it comes with an increase for each child. Here’s who qualifies and what to expect.
Quick facts
- Who
- A parent raising a child alone (not cohabiting)
- Child age
- Youngest child under 7
- Means-tested
- Yes — but you can work and keep part of it
- Where
- Department of Social Protection
Who qualifies
- You’re the parent, step-parent, adoptive parent or legal guardian of a child under 7 and the main carer.
- You’re not cohabiting (not living with a spouse or partner).
- You pass the means test, and you’ve made efforts to seek maintenance from the other parent where relevant.
- You satisfy the habitual residence condition.
How much you get
There’s a personal weekly rate of about €244 a week (recent figure), plus an increase of around €46 a week for each qualifying child. The exact amounts are set each year — confirm the current 2026 rates on gov.ie. Your payment may be reduced if you have means above the disregard.
Working and OFP
When your youngest turns 7
OFP usually stops when your youngest child reaches 7. Many parents then move to the Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment (JST), which has rules designed around being a lone parent of a school-age child, or to Working Family Payment if they’re working enough hours.
Common questions
Can I work and keep the payment?
What counts as cohabiting?
What happens when my child turns 7?
Do I have to look for maintenance?
Check the official sources
This guide is general information, not financial advice. Rules, rates and eligibility change and differ by country — always confirm the current details with the relevant official body before you act.
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