Payments from €260 will be made to parents from Monday as the Government pledges to assist families with September back-to-school costs.
The Back To School Clothing and Footwear Allowance will be paid from next Monday, July 10, to eligible families.
This year's allowance will see an additional €100 per child added in light of the current cost-of-living crisis affecting families across the country.
Whilst many will receive their payment automatically, others may have to apply.
Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, who launched the allowance last month, said: "As in previous years, more than 80 per cent of payments under this scheme will be paid without the need to make an application. I would urge all families to check their eligibility for this important scheme.
"As Minister, I very much recognise the pressures that families are under in relation to back-to-school costs and am pleased to have secured almost €90 million for the scheme this year."
What is the Back To School Clothing and Footwear Allowance?
It is a payment that can help with the cost of uniforms and footwear for children going to school and is paid automatically to some families.
120,000 families will automatically receive the payment with 210,000 children set to benefit.
Parents who are eligible to receive payment automatically this Monday were notified on June 8 in their online MyWelfare accounts.
If you are not paid automatically, you must apply. Applications have been open since June 8 and will close on September 30 of this year and can be made here.
Families who did not receive notification of an automated payment can still make an application.
How much money will the allowance entitle me to?
The Department launched this year's allowance with an increase of €100 per child to €260 for children aged 4-11 and to €385 for children aged 12 years and over in second-level education as of September 30, 2023.
Who qualifies for the allowance payment?
The parent and child in question must be residents of Ireland.
The child must either be between the ages of 4-17 on September 30 of the year you are applying.
Dependent children aged between 18 and 22, and returning to full-time second-level education in a recognised school or college in the autumn of the year you are applying also qualify.
Your total household weekly income must not be higher than:
- €642 if you have one child
- €692 if you have two children
- €742 if you have three children
- €792 if you have four children
Any payments you receive from Child Benefit and the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), among other incomes, are not counted as part of the above weekly income figures.
Humphreys commented on the efforts she says the Government are making to lessen the burden of school costs: "Through the increased Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, as well as the extra €100 paid on Child Benefit this week, we are doing all we can to support families right across the State."
The Department of Social Protection is available for enquiries relating to the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance by phone on 071 9193318 and 0818 111113 Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.
The Department can also be reached by email at bscfa@welfare.ie if you have an enquiry regarding an application or entitlement.
