Working Family Payment
What is the Working Family Payment?
The Working Family Payment is a weekly, tax-free payment designed to provide additional financial support to employees with children. The amount of the payment depends on family income and size.
How to qualify for the Working Family Payment:
To qualify for the Working Family Payment, you must meet several criteria:
You work in the Irish State and pay tax and social insurance (PRSI) there.
You work 38 or more hours every fortnight. You can combine hours from different jobs or combine your weekly hours with those of your spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant to reach this total.
Your job is expected to last at least 3 months.
You have at least one child who normally lives with you. This child must be under 18 years old or between 18 and 22 years old and in full-time education.
Your earnings are less than a certain amount set based on your family size.
You cannot claim this payment if you are on a Community Employment Scheme or most other job schemes. However, you may qualify if you are participating in a Job Initiative or the Community Service Programme.
Rates of Payment:
The Working Family Payment you receive is 60% of the difference between your average weekly family income and the income limit that applies to your family.
The payment is made directly into your current or deposit account and cannot be paid into a mortgage account. Any payment that you qualify for will be paid from the first Thursday after your application form is received. However, you will be reassessed once a year.
Your payment will not change for a year (52 weeks) even if your income goes up or down.
You can ask for your payment to be reassessed if you start caring for an additional child or your
One-Parent Family Payment stops. Working Family Payment is considered when you are assessed for rent or mortgage supplement and local authority housing.
Working Family Payment income limits from 5 January 2023:
| Family Size |
Weekly Family Income Limit |
Annual Family Income Limit |
| One child |
€645 |
€33,540 |
| Two children |
€746 |
€38,792 |
| Three children |
€847 |
€44,044 |
| Four children |
€938 |
€48,776 |
| Five children |
€1,064 |
€55,328 |
| Six children |
€1,180 |
€61,360 |
| Seven children |
€1,316 |
€68,432 |
| Eight children |
€1,412 |
€73,424 |
How to Apply:
Working Family Payment Section
Address:
Department of Social Protection,
Working Family Payment Section,
St Oliver Plunkett Road,
Letterkenny,
Co Donegal,
F92 T449
Website:
www.gov.ie/WFP
Email: wfpnewclaims@welfare.ie
Phone Number: 074 9164575
Working Family Payment (WFP1)
