Child turns 18

A dependent child must generally be under the age of 18 to be included in their parent or caregiver's Supported Living Payment or have Orphan's Benefit paid for them in the Republic of Ireland.

When a child turns 18, they are generally no longer considered a dependent child and must be excluded from their parent or caregiver's Supported Living Payment or are no longer eligible for Orphan's Benefit from the start of the pay period following the child's 18th birthday.

However, if the 18-year-old child is continuing in education and is not financially independent, the child may continue to be considered a dependent child and be included in their parent or caregiver's Supported Living Payment or have Orphan's Benefit paid for them for a limited period.

In these situations, the child must be excluded from Supported Living Payment or Orphan's Benefit must stop from the start of the pay period following:

• the date they no longer meet these criteria or
• 31 December of the year they turn 18

whichever is earlier.

Note if the caregiver also gets Orphan's Benefit for other children, the payments for the other children will not be affected by another child turning 18.