Q1:  I live in the South and work in the North. My husband works in the South as a teacher and I have 2 children in full time education.  I receive children’s allowance from the South.  Am I entitled to an allowance for them?

A:  In your circumstances Ireland is competent to pay family benefits under EU rules as your husband is employed there.

Universal Credit is a means-tested NI/UK benefit which may be available to cross-border workers on low incomes. For more information please see: Border People – Universal Credit 

[Last checked January 2023]

Q2:  My husband is unemployed.  I work in Northern Ireland.  We have been receiving Irish Child Benefit for our 2 children.  However this has been stopped and I have been told to claim from NI.  However this is a considerably lower amount.  I cannot afford such a drop in Child Benefit.

A:  Unless your husband is getting Irish Jobseeker’s Benefit (not Jobseeker’s Allowance), Northern Ireland is responsible for paying your family benefits under EU rules because you are employed there.

If the rate of Irish Child Benefit for your two children is more than your (Child Benefit (UK) then you can (as a cross-border worker) ask the Department of Social Protection to pay you the difference. For more information please see: Border People – Child Benefit in Northern Ireland

[Last checked: January 2023]

Q3:  We live in Northern Ireland (NI) and my husband works in Ireland.  I claim Child Benefit from NI, but I have been advised that I can actually claim them in Ireland as the benefits are much better.  Is this correct and if so how do I go about doing it and what benefits can I receive?

A: If only your husband is in paid employment then Ireland is responsible for paying family benefits under European Social Security rules.  This means that you should actually be receiving Irish Child Benefit and any other family benefits from Ireland. You should contact the Department of Social Protection.

[Last checked: January 2023]

Q4:  I live in Northern Ireland (NI) and work in Ireland commuting daily. Currently I am receiving child benefit from Ireland as my husband also worked in Ireland.  However he has recently moved jobs and now works in NI.  What effect has this on my entitlements to NI Child Benefit?

A:  Under EU Social Security rules, NI is now ‘competent’ to initially pay you family benefits on the basis of your husband’s employment there.  This means that you should claim Child Benefit from HMRC.  As the UK rate is usually less than the rate of Irish Child Benefit you can ask the Department of Social Protection in Ireland to pay you the difference, this is often referred to as a top-up payment or supplement and is usually paid quarterly.

[Last checked: February 2023]

Q5:  I am currently living and working in Northern Ireland (NI).  I am married and have a baby.  My husband works in Donegal and we are considering moving the family there.  I am receiving Child Benefit in NI,  how would this benefit be affected by a move to Ireland?

A:  If your family becomes resident in Donegal and your husband continues to work there, Ireland will become the ‘competent state’ to pay your family benefits.  Therefore you would apply to the Department of Social Protection for Irish Child Benefit. You should also enquire about other family benefits that may be available to you in ROI.

[Last checked: February 2023]

Q6:  I receive Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) but I have been told that I am not entitled to UK Personal Independence Payment, as it is residency based. Am I entitled to anything else?

A:  As long as the UK remains the ‘competent state’, you can make a new claim to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) daily living component. You must demonstrate a genuine and sufficient link to the UK. The PIP mobility component is not exportable. For more information please see: Border People – PIP in Northern Ireland

For information relating to Irish benefits you should contact your local Citizen Information Centre .

[Last checked: February 2023]

Q7:  I live in the UK and am thinking of moving to the South of Ireland but I will still be working in the UK.  Where would I claim tax credits and child benefit?

A:  If yours is the only employment in your family and this is in the UK, then the UK remains ‘competent’ to pay you family benefits (Child Benefit and  UK Child Tax Credit) when you move to the Republic of Ireland (ROI) under EU Social Security rules. However, Tax Credits is being replaced by Universal Credit(UC) and moving to a different jurisdiction will prompt a managed migration to UC meaning your tax credits claim will end.  You may be entitled to UC based on your employment in the UK. For more information please see: Border People – Universal Credit.

If Irish family benefits are paid at a higher rate you can, on the basis of your residence in ROI, claim the difference from the Department of Social Protection.

[Last checked: February 2023]

Q8:  I live in Ireland and work in N.I.  My husband works in Ireland.  I wish to make a claim for child tax credit in N.I. but want to know will the child benefits I receive in Ireland be taken into account and treated as part of my income.

A: When applying for UK Working Tax Credits the Irish Child Benefit is not regarded as income.  However UK Child Tax Credits is regarded a Family Benefit and that would be affected by the Irish Child Benefits payment. For further information please visit HMRC – Tax credits  

Please Note: Up until March 2022, frontier workers living South, working North could open a new Tax Credit claim, however, that has now stopped and an application for Universal Credit can now be considered.

Q9:  I am originally from Northern Ireland (NI) and have been living and working in Ireland for some time now.  My mother is in a care home in NI.  I am wondering if I will be entitled to any help as regards carers support and possibly help with some modifications to my home if she comes to live with me?

A:  As a full time carer you may be entitled to a number of supports from the Department of Social Protection.  Carer’s Benefit is a short-term payment paid for up to 24 months to people who give up employment to care on a full-time basis for someone who requires full-time care and attention.

Carer’s Allowance is a payment for people who are caring on a full-time basis for someone who requires full-time care and attention and will require it for at least 12 months. You must satisfy a means test and the habitual residency condition.

You may be entitled to assistance to make changes and adaptations to your home. The Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability can help will large and structural changes, while minor work can be covered by the Mobility Aids Grant Scheme. You cannot apply for both.

[Last checked: February 2023]

Q10: I work 16hrs a week in Northern Ireland and I have 2 kids so I get Child Benefit from the North, however, my husband works full time in the South and I was wondering what benefits, if any, would I be entitled to from the South as someone was telling me the Child Benefit is a lot more in the South.

A:  As you work in the North and your family home is in the North,  the UK is responsible for paying your Child Benefit, however, as your husband is working in the South he can apply for a top up from the Irish Department of Social Protection.  They will consider the amount of Child Benefit  you receive in the North and compare it with the Irish Child Benefit amount, if the Irish amount is higher they will pay you the difference.

The Child Benefit application form is available for download – Form CB1

Along with the application form the Department may also require

• A letter explaining that you wish to claim a top up  or supplement payment of Child Benefit
• The children’s long birth certificates (so they can be assigned PPS numbers)
• A letter from your husband’s  employer confirming employment in the South

For further information please visit the Child Benefit Section of the (Irish) Department of Social Protection: Telephone 00353 74 9164496 (from the North) or Local 0818 300600

[Last checked: February 2023]

This webpage is for general information purposes only and while we endeavour to keep it up-to-date, errors may occur. It is very important that you check with the relevant body to ensure the information is current and is applicable to your situation.

If you would like to suggest amendments or highlight new information that could be useful to others please don’t hesitate to get in touch.