Recipients will receive €280 per child.
Midlands families are set to receive the first double child-benefit payment from today.
More than 35,000 recipients of child benefit will receive €280 per child.
In Westmeath, 12,500 families will benefit from the additional money.
There will be 12,000 recipients of the double payment in Laois, and 10,000 in Offaly.
The double payment was announced in the Budget in September.
Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys says the increased payment is aimed at helping struggling families deal with the cost of living:
She also says wealthy families who don’t need the double childcare benefit can choose to repay the allowance to the state.
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