Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 July 2021
225. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will urgently reinstate payment of child benefit for the summer months to parents and guardians of school going 16 to 18 year olds that are unable to provide written confirmation required from her Department as schools are now closed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38218/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraChild benefit is a monthly payment, payable to age 16 years and is subsequently payable to age 18 where the child remains in full time education.
Where a child turns 16, the parent/guardian needs to get confirmation from the school that their child is still attending. Each month, the Department issues a notification to parents for all children who are due to turn 16, requesting this information.
Last year this requirement was deferred owing to the fact that schools were closed due to the Covid pandemic and it was accepted that having the forms completed by schools could present difficulty for parents.
As schools have been open in 2021, the normal process has applied this year and all parents should have received notification in the normal way. The Department was contacted by a number of parents who have not received payment in July and is now aware that an issue has arisen in respect of a number of children who had been certified as in continued education by the department last year to the end of the 2021 academic year and where the relevant certification form for continuation of payment had not issued in time.
The Department has immediately addressed this issue and the Child Benefit payment in respect of July is being made on the 13th July for those paid by EFT and on the 14th July for those collecting their payment at a post office. In addition, eligibility for these children has been extended to the end of September 2021. A "continuing in education" certificate will issue in August in respect of these children, once completed by the school and returned, their eligibility can be further extended, either to the end of the education cycle or their 18th birthday, whichever comes first.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
