Verified lone-parent means test

One-Parent Family Payment estimate

An indicative 2026 family-rate calculation for a qualifying parent caring for children without a cohabiting partner. Your figures stay on this device.

Child maintenance is excluded: enter only maintenance paid for the parent in the spousal-maintenance field.

Your circumstances

Answer each visible question. Blank and “not sure” answers do not count as zero or no. Editing any answer clears your confirmation and hides the previous estimate.

Is the parent under 66?Has the Department confirmed that the habitual residence condition is satisfied?Is the parent not cohabiting with a partner?Does the parent have the main care and charge of the child?Do the parents have joint equal custody?Youngest child’s agePublished age exceptionQualifying children under 12Qualifying children aged 12 or overWeekly employment and self-employed income after allowed deductions (€)Weekly spousal maintenance—not child maintenance (€)Vouched weekly rent or mortgage cost (€)Other assessable weekly cash income (€)Assessable savings, investments and property (€)Do non-cash maintenance, direct payments by another parent, rental income or other property issues apply?Does another welfare payment or scheme overlap?

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Indicative family rate

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Evidence and limits

Rule ofp-2026.1 · effective 1 January 2026 · checked 8 September 2026. The first €165 of weekly earnings is disregarded and half the balance is assessed. Up to €95.23 in vouched weekly housing costs offsets spousal maintenance before half the balance is assessed.

The first €7.60 of weekly means does not reduce payment. This estimate uses €2.50 reduction bands and excludes Child Benefit, Fuel Allowance and other separate supports.

Official service page Operational guidelines Means guidance Budget 2026 rates

Estimate only: The Department decides custody, cohabitation, child qualification, means and final entitlement. When the youngest child ages out, check Jobseeker's Transitional Payment and Working Family Payment.