Two double child benefit payments before Christmas look set to be announced in the Budget.

This will mark a boost of €283 before then end of 2024.

There are also rumours swirling around the potential for the Child Benefit payment to be increased by €10 in the upcoming budget.

This would be a big change as this payment has been sitting at €140 a month for years.

Eligibility for the payment has also recently been expanded to include over 18s who are in secondary school.

This change means the following people can apply for the monthly payment:

• Parents or guardians of children aged 16 years and under
• Parents or guardians of children between 16 and 19 years if the child is in full-time education, training or cannot support themselves financially due to disability
• Non-EU citizens legally working in the State may qualify for Child Benefit if their child is also a resident here
• Only for your first child that is born in Ireland and where invited to apply by correspondence from DSP. Payment is automatic for subsequent children so no application is needed.

Depending on your situation, you should apply for Child Benefit within 12 months of:

• Your baby being born
• The child becoming a member of your family
• Your family coming to live in Ireland
• You starting work in Ireland (if your children are living in another EU country)

If your baby is born in Ireland, you must register their birth within 3 months. After you do this, the Department of Social Protection (DSP) will:

• Give a Personal Public Service (PPS) number to your baby, and
• Start a Child Benefit claim for your child

For more information on how to apply, click here.

READ MORE:

• Aisling Bea opens up about keeping her pregnancy a secret and welcoming her first baby
• Experts predict timeline for decline in house prices in Ireland
• Pregnancy tests – When to take one, best accuracy, and what to do next