Don’t need the bonus child benefit payments? You can always just give them back, minister says

https://www.thejournal.ie/double-double-child-benefit-6502172-Oct2024/

Posted by IrishChristmasLatte

11 Comments

  1. God she’s fucking insufferable, like a history teacher, she makes Simon look human.

  2. MundanePop5791 on

    Sickened that all familes including millionaires are getting bonus double payments while children don’t have basic equipment, surgeries, therapies, school places with some of the largest class sizes in europe. Attempting to buy votes from the middle classes again

  3. Heather is a dose but I do admire her ability to tell people to go and shite when they’re being unreasonable.

    >For the few parents who occasionally pop up in the media declaring that they neither want nor need the money, it is worth remembering that Child Benefit is an opt-in payment. You don’t automatically receive it – you have to apply, and you can opt-out at any time by contacting the Department of Social Protection to close your claim.

    From here which goes into why it’s not means tested.

    https://www.ictu.ie/blog/dr-laura-bambrick-explains-why-child-benefit-paid-wealthy-parents

  4. SpareZealousideal740 on

    Just call it what is and it’s a bribe for middle and upper class families to vote for them.

  5. hungryhungryhibernia on

    I’m can’t believe this is a controversy. It’s a well needed boost after having a newborn, or have a child right now. Given the rising costs of everything, I think it’s well needed.

  6. Suspicious-Solid8473 on

    Throwing a lump sum at a massive issue doesn’t really help. Why not increase the monthly payment by €20 instead 2 lump sums….why not have it means tested and lower income households could be helped with and increased monthly child benefit. I’m lucky enough that I don’t need to claim child benefit, but I remember growing up, my mother desperately needed that money, it didn’t stretch far then…it can only be worse now

  7. dickbuttscompanion on

    Means testing things takes time and money, better to pay it out to everyone and hope that the wealthier donate it, or spend into the local economy.

    I’ve never heard anyone say they’re getting too much money off the state?

  8. Marzipan_civil on

    Ignoring the once off double payments, the rate of Child Benefit has not changed since 2012. In 2011 and 2012, the rates were reduced to their current levels. Every other social welfare payment seems to increase each year, but child benefit hasn’t changed in 13 years. Of course, there are several other ways that government help families now that didn’t exist in 2012. Paternity leave, parents leave, childcare subsidies, free school books, school meals are just some of them. This says to me that the targeted help is going where it’s needed, and child benefit remains as a nominal universal amount to cover any gaps.