How Much Is Paternity Benefit in Ireland? 2025 Guide

Paternity Benefit is a social welfare payment for employed and self-employed people on paternity leave in Ireland.

As an employer, understanding Paternity Benefit helps you better support your team during life-changing moments, like welcoming a new child.

If your employees are entitled to Paternity Benefit in 2025, they may receive a full rate of €289/week or a half-rate of €144/week, depending on their eligibility.

Let’s find out more.

Further Reading

• Find out all relevant details about the Irish Paternity Leave.
• Check out our in-depth guide on Ireland’s new retirement savings system – the Auto Enrolment Pension Scheme.

How Much Paternity Benefit Do Employees Get in Ireland?

Depending on the other social benefits your employees claim, they could receive a full or half-rate Paternity Benefit plus an increased rate for dependants.

Here are the rates of Paternity Benefit:

1. Full Rate Paternity Benefit

The standard rate of Paternity Benefit is €289 a week in 2025.

Your employees can claim Paternity Benefit as long as they:

• Are on paternity leave from work: Under Ireland’s Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016, new fathers are entitled to two consecutive weeks of paternity leave which can begin anytime within the first 26 weeks of their child's birth or adoption placement.

• Have enough social insurance contributions (PRSI) in one of the relevant classes: They should fall into Class S, A, E, or H.

Paternity Benefit is available for any child born or adopted on or after 1 September 2016. It's also available to same-sex couples.

Paternity Benefit is paid over two weeks in the first six months after a child's birth or adoption placement.

2. Half Rate Paternity Benefit

If an employee receives any of the social welfare payments listed below, they may be eligible for a half rate of Paternity Benefit, which is €144 per week in 2025.

Employees may claim half-rate Paternity Benefit if they receive:

• One-Parent Family Payment
• Widow's, Widower's, or Surviving Civil Partners (Contributory) Pension
• Widow's, Widower's, or Surviving Civil Partners (Non-Contributory) Pension
• Death benefits or Survivor's Benefits — under the Irish Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme (e.g., Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partners Pension)

3. Payment for Dependants

The relevant parent (father of the child or partner, spouse, or cohabitant of the birth mother) may be eligible for a higher Paternity Benefit payment if they have other dependants.

Did you know that Paternity Benefit isn’t just for men?

It can be claimed by the spouse, cohabitant, or civil partner of the birth mother, adopting mother, or sole male adopter — regardless of gender.

In this case, the Paternity Benefit rate is compared against the Illness Benefit rate they would receive if they were absent from work due to sickness.

They’re entitled to a higher rate between the two.

Here’s an example:

Let’s say your employee earns €300 or more a week and is entitled to standard Paternity Benefit (weekly rate of €289) in 2025, and their partner or cohabitant is unemployed.

In that case, their entitlement upon sickness would be €244 Illness Benefit, plus €162 for their adult dependant (cohabitant or partner). So their Illness Benefit weekly rate would be €406.

Your employee's Paternity Benefit payment can’t be less than their Illness Benefit rate.

In this case, they’ll receive a Paternity Benefit rate of €406 per week.

Wait, we aren’t done yet.

Here are a few key points you should communicate to your employees:

• If your employee has an adult dependant who claims social welfare, they aren’t entitled to an increase in Paternity Benefit.
• If your employee has a child dependant on whom they’re claiming social welfare (e.g., Child Benefit), they may be entitled to a half-rate increase.
• If your employee has an unemployed adult dependant signing on for PRSI credits or earning under €100.01 a week, they qualify for full rate increases.
• If your employee has an adult dependant with weekly earnings between €100.01 and €310, they’re entitled to a tapered rate increase for an adult dependant and a full rate increase for a child dependant.
• If your employee’s adult dependant earns from €310.01 to €400 per week, they’re entitled to a half rate increase for a child dependant.
• If your employee’s adult dependant earns over €400 a week, they’re not entitled to any increase for dependants.

Paternity Benefit is not to be confused with Parent’s Benefit. Parent’s Benefit is a parental benefit given in the first two years in the case of adoption or birth of a child. New parents can also avail benefits like parental and adoptive leave if they meet the qualifying conditions.

5 FAQs About Paternity Benefit Payments in Ireland

Here are five questions people typically ask about Paternity Benefit payments:

1. How Is Paternity Benefit Paid to Your Employees?

Your employees will receive Paternity Benefit payments directly into their bank account or building society account (current or deposit). Payments cannot be made into a mortgage account.

Alternatively, employees can opt to have the payment sent to your bank account.

Remember:

If you choose to continue paying your employee in full during their two weeks of paternity leave, you can request that their Paternity Benefit payment be redirected to your account. Ensure this arrangement is clearly outlined in your employee’s contract of employment to avoid confusion.

2. How Much Paternity Benefit Do Employees Get In Case of Stillbirths or Miscarriages?

Your employees are entitled to full Paternity Benefit if there is a stillbirth or miscarriage of their child any time after the 24th week of pregnancy (from the 25th week).

However, they must have the required PRSI contributions.

To apply for Paternity Benefit following a stillbirth or miscarriage, your employees must:

• Complete the Paternity Benefit application form as usual.
• Get a medical certificate from their partner’s doctor confirming these details:
  • Expected date of birth
  • Actual date of birth
  • Length of pregnancy in weeks
• Submit the application form with their personal details and a letter from the medical practitioner of the mother concerned to the Department of Social Protection via:
  • Online form: mywelfare.ie
  • Email: paternityben@welfare.ie
  • Tel: 0818 690 690
• Have their paternity leave certified by you (the employer) or do it themselves (if self-employed). They’ll also have to provide proof of the child's expected delivery date.

Your employees must register with mywelfare.ie and sign up for a Public Services Card before applying for Paternity Benefit.

3. Can Your Employees Receive Paternity Benefit Payments While They’re Abroad?

If your employees are outside of Ireland, they can still receive Paternity Benefit payments for a maximum of 2 weeks. This applies to European Union (EU) and non-EU citizens.

They must notify the Paternity Benefit Section that they require the payment to be made abroad.

If they need further information, here’s how they can Contact the Paternity Benefit Section.

4. Are Your Employees Still Entitled to Paternity Benefit If They’re Receiving Payments From You?

Yes, your employees are still entitled to receive Paternity Benefit, even if you pay them during their two weeks of paternity leave.

However, as an employer, you can request that your employees redirect their Paternity Benefit payment to you if you continue to pay them in full during their absence.

5. Do Your Employees Have to Pay Tax on Paternity Benefit?

Yes, your employees do pay tax on Paternity Benefit.

However, they don’t have to pay Universal Social Charge (USC) and PRSI (social insurance) on their Paternity Benefit payment.

The tax rate your employees pay varies according to individual circumstances, the rate band, and tax credits.

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Paternity Benefit is covered under PRSI for qualified individuals — who may receive a full or half-rate benefit.

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