The first Child Benefit payments for 18-year-olds in full-time education will be paid today.
60,000 18-year-olds who are in full-time education or who have a disability will benefit from the change.
Child benefit is paid on the first Tuesday of each month at a rate of €140 per child.
Announcing the payments today, Minister Humphreys said: “With many children now starting primary school at age five, together with the increase in pupils doing transition year, there has been an increase in the number of 18-year-olds still in secondary education.
“Child Benefit is one of the only mechanisms available to me to support and put more money back into the pockets of working families.
“I believe the extension of Child Benefit to 18-year-olds in full-time education is a long-term change for the better and will support families across Ireland into the future.”