Unable to claim child benefit, do I have any redress?

We lived in the same rented accomodation for 5 years and then spent a year with my husband abroad from 2010 to 2011. We then came back and re-rented the same property from 2011 to 2012. My son went to school from September to July as normal but for this whole period of time I was unable to receive any child benefit for 11/12. We are Irish citizens, my husband remained working abroad while we stayed here for school and to be around family. All details were sent to the child benefit dept and every letter came back stating that we are not entitled to receive benefit because my husband was being paid abroad by the company he worked for and this in turn suggests that we have no income in this country and therefore we cannot provide for ourselves. We are therefore non residents of the state in their eyes. We couldn't have been clearer with all our details, bank statements, bills paid, etc but maybe I have it wrong, and their leading question to me was why didn't I sign on, then I would have been in a stronger position. I never have done and didn't think i needed to to receive child benefit. I am happy to stay at home and not actively seeking work. I am away again with my husband until our return in a couple of months and I would like to persue this. My son had a serious accident on our return in 2011 and was under the hosptial for that length of time, It's clear we didn't go anywhere and I have confirmation from the landlord that we lived in the accomodation.

Thanks for you interest.

Does your husband work in an EU or EEA country? If so then you need to claim child benefits there.

The important factor here is where Social Insurance (or equivalent) contributions are being paid in respect of the household. In your case, your husband is working and paying Social Insurance abroad - if it's in another EU country, then the child benefit claim is proper to that country (it may still be paid to you, but not from the Irish authorities). Since you have no income here, no Social Insurance is being paid in Ireland.

You are in a similar situation to European workers who are living and working in Ireland (and paying PRSI), where their wife and child(ren) are in the "home country". Child Benefit is paid by Ireland in respect of that family even though the child(ren) don't actually live here.

Thanks you very much I understand now, this is down to where my husband is working and paying equivalent to prsi. Thanks he's all over the place wherever he can get work after years working in Naas, currently being paid by a Norwegian company I think until conracts are changed yet again and it could be another company say in Australia for example. Thanks for that, I won't persue it, I have a better understanding now and thankyou for your input. Kind regards