If either parent, or step-parent, had worked at any time and paid social insurance (PRSI) for 26 weeks, the child is entitled to the Guardian’s Payment (Contributory).
Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory) is a non-contributory payment for a child who is not entitled to the contributory payment. The means test for this is based on the child’s means.
Payment is made to the child’s guardian until the child turns 18 or, if the child is in full-time education, until they turn 22. The maximum Guardian’s Payment is €203 a week.
The number of recipients of Guardian’s Payment (Contributory) and Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory) between 2019 and 2023 is shown in the table below. For the years 2019 to 2022, recipients are taken at the 31st December of that year. For 2023, recipients are taken as at the 31st May.
Table 1: Recipients of Guardian’s Payment (Contributory) and Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory), by year.
Year
|
Guardian's Payment (Contributory)
|
Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory)
|
2023
|
1,204
|
585
|
2022
|
1,192
|
594
|
2021
|
1,177
|
578
|
2020
|
1,179
|
553
|
2019
|
1,164
|
542
|