Child benefit is paid up to age 16 or up to age 19 if the child is in full-time education or where the child has a physical or mental disability.
In addition, families at greatest risk of poverty receive income support up to age 22 in respect of children in full-time education. Child dependant allowances are payable in respect of all children up to the age of 18 years; however, where a claimant is in receipt of a long-term social welfare payment, child dependant allowances are payable where children are in full-time education up to the age of 22 years, or up to the end of the academic year after the 22nd birthday.
This applies to long-term payments, such as pensions, only; it does not apply to short-term payments such as disability benefit, unemployment benefit, short-term unemployment assistance and supplementary welfare allowance.
The more favourable treatment of people on long-term payments is in recognition of the fact that families with children on long-term payments face a higher risk of poverty.