THE issue surrounding child benefit and social welfare payments has now been solved, banks say.

Thousands of Ulster Bank, Permanent TSB, KBC and An Post customers did not receive payments that had been due this morning.

5 A number of people are understood to have been left out of pocket Credit: Alamy

Ulster Bank had said it was an "industry wide" problem as the others said it was a European payments issue.

Permanent TSB have now said the issue has now been resolved.

In a statement they said: "The European payments issue has now been resolved.

"This means that any payment due to transfer to your account from another bank today has been processed.

5 Ulster Bank customers have been affected by a payment issue Credit: PA:Press Association

"You should expect to see the payment now credited to your account. We wish to apologise for any inconvenience caused."

KBC confirmed: "We apologise to customers who experienced a delay in payments reaching their accounts today.

"This has now been resolved and thanks for your patience."

While Ulster Bank have made no official statement, they have replied to a number of tweets from customers who say the money has dropped.

5 Permanent TSB customers have also been hit by payment issues Credit: Crispin Rodwell - The Sun Dublin

It's understood the issue with An Post has also been rectified.

Earlier, the Department of Social Protection confirmed that the issue stemmed with the banks as they processed all payments as usual.

The confirmed that they are continuing to monitor situation and have asked punters to allow time for the money to come over the course of the day.

They said: “The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection has been informed by the Banking and Payments Federation (BPFI) that the issue with the EU payments systems has been resolved.

5 KBC Bank customers have also been affected Credit: RollingNews.ie

"Customers whose social welfare payments were affected can expect payment to reach their account over the course of today.

"The Department will continue to monitor the issue.

"In the meantime, if a social welfare customer is encountering difficulties, they should contact their Community Welfare Service at their local Intreo Centre."

The child benefit payment is €140 per month for each child and is usually paid on the first Tuesday of every month.

5 An Post has been hit but it's all good to collect money from post offices Credit: Alamy

Lone parent group SPARK (Single Parents Acting for the Rights of our Kids) said the problem has meant kids have been sent to school with no lunches.

A spokeswoman said: "Our members have been up in arms since 10 o'clock last night when they expected the payments through.

"We have had parents who were depending on it to top up electricity / gas meters this morning and buy bread for school lunches.

"When you are living on a financial edge, a bank 'glitch' is not an inconvenience but can have a devastating impact. As post offices close, more people are being pushed onto electronic payments and too frequently these are failing and having a huge impact on our families.

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"We know that some of our members could not top off electricity / gas meters this morning. We know others needed this money for bread for school lunches or bus fares for school.

"So many of our families are living in consistent poverty and have no leeway events like this highlight the constant stress of managing budgets that are too tight!"

Customers with AIB and Bank of Ireland were not affected by the glitch.