Families across Ireland can earn up to €4,000 per year with little known social welfare boost

Thousands of families across Ireland could benefit from a little known social welfare boost that can help them once they're employed.

The Back to Work Family Dividend (BTWFD) helps families to move from social welfare into employment. It gives financial support to people with children who stop claiming a jobseeker's payment or a One-Parent Family Payment because they are in work or start work. Work includes employment or self-employment.

READ NEXT: Man in his 30s rushed to hospital following alleged assault as Gardaí appeal for witnesses

How to qualify for the Back to Work Family Dividend

You can get the Back to Work Family Dividend (BTWFD) if you have at least one qualified child and you are getting one of the following payments:

• Jobseeker’s Allowance or Jobseeker’s Benefit for at least 12 months (312 days of unemployment) of which at least 6 months (156 days of unemployment) must have been in the last year. Only time spent on your current jobseeker’s claim can be used to make up the days
• One-Parent Family Payment (OFP)
• Jobseeker’s Transitional payment (paid to people who are not cohabiting with children aged between 7 and 13 years)

You must stop claiming your qualifying payment to get BTWFD.

If you are not already in insurable employment or self-employment, you must take up employment within 4 weeks of leaving your original payment or scheme. The employment must be in the State.

You can combine time on a jobseeker’s payment with time spent on a qualifying scheme to meet the eligibility requirements. If you went from a qualifying payment to a qualifying scheme and then find work, you can go directly onto the BTWFD scheme without having to sign back onto your original payment.

Qualifying schemes are:

• Community Employment
• Tús
• Rural Social Scheme
• Back to Education Allowance
• Job Initiative Scheme

READ NEXT: Man who slapped his young son over toileting issues jailed for one year and eight months

If you were employed or self-employed and were getting a One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) and your OFP has stopped because your youngest child has reached the age limit you may be eligible for BTWFD – if you do not sign onto another primary social welfare payment.

The Back to Work Family Dividend can be paid with Working Family Payment (WFP) and is not taken into account in the means test for WFP.

The Back to Work Family Dividend (BTWFD) can also be paid with Maternity Benefit and Paternity Benefit.

From January 2026, people getting Disability Allowance or Blind Pension are eligible for the Back to Work Family Dividend when they take up employment.

Other payments and BTWFD

You are not eligible for BTWFD if you or your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is getting a primary social welfare payment or is on an employment or training scheme. You cannot get BTWFD for a child on whose behalf an CSP or IQA is being paid or who is getting a payment in their own right. BTWFD is not paid with the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance.

BTWFD can be paid with the following payments (to you or your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant):

• Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance
• Child Benefit
• Disablement Benefit and Death Benefit (under the OIB scheme)
• Domiciliary Care Allowance
• Working Family Payment
• Additional Needs Payment
• Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory)
• Illness Benefit and Injury Benefit (under the OIB scheme) for 36 days
• Mortgage Interest Supplement
• Rent Supplement
• Bereaved Parent Grant
• BTWFD is not assessed as means for Rent Supplement.

READ NEXT: Former Prince Andrew arrested in relation to ties to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein

You can claim BTWFD and Illness Benefit or Injury Benefit (under the OIB scheme) for 36 days (6 weeks). Your BTWFD will be suspended after the 36th day of your Illness or Injury Benefit claim.

How long is Back to Work Family Dividend paid?

BTWFD will last for up to 2 years, if you remain in work.

If you claim a primary social welfare payment at any time within the 2-year period, the BTWFD payment will stop. If your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant claims a payment, the BTWFD payment will also stop.

If you lose your job and claim a social welfare payment the BTWFD stops but it may restart if you get a new job – to a maximum of 2 restarts for each claimant.

Rate of Back to Work Family Dividend

The Back to Work Family Dividend (BTWFD) is based on the rate of Child Support Payment (previously called Increase for a Qualified Child) you were getting with your social welfare payment. It is paid for each child (up to a limit of 4 children).

If you were getting a reduced Child Support Payment (CSP) with your payment, you will get the same reduced amount BTWFD in your first year, and then half of that amount in the second year.

From January 2026, the full BTWFD is €58 for a child aged under 12 and €78 for a child aged 12 and over. In the second year, it is reduced to €29 for a child aged under 12 and €39 for a child aged 12 and over.

Weekly Back to Work Family Dividend rate from January 2026

It is paid weekly in arrears by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) only. BTWFD is not taxable.

READ NEXT: ALERT: Irish drivers warned to check cars and vans for rats after huge spike in nasty callouts

How to apply for the Back to Work Family Dividend

To apply, fill in the Back to Work Family Dividend application form (BTWFD1) and return it, with the relevant supporting documentation, to your local Intreo Centre or local Social Welfare Branch Office.

You can contact your local office to get more information on the scheme. They will explain how the application process works and give you the application form. You can also get the form online (pdf).

For more information visit Citizens Information.