Thousands of Irish parents are in for a cash boost in the coming weeks as payments are due to be made for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance.
Applications opened today so new families can apply for the payment amid the rising cost of living in Ireland.
The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance provides a once-off payment to eligible families towards the cost of school clothing and footwear.
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The rates of payment for each child have been increased this year by €10 to €160 for children aged 4 - 11 and to €285 for children aged 12 years and over in second-level education.
Ukrainian families who have moved to Ireland due to the war will also benefit from the scheme.
You may qualify for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance if you are:
- Getting a social welfare payment (including Working Family Payment and Back to Work Family Dividend or a Health Service Executive payment, or
- Taking part in an approved employment scheme (back-to-work scheme) or
- Taking part in a recognised education or training course, or
- Getting a Daily Expenses Allowance for a child in education (or for yourself if you are 18–22 and returning to full-time second-level education), or
- Involved in an Area Partnership Scheme, or
- Attending a FET (formerly Fás) training course
Your child must be aged between 4-17 on 30 September. If they are aged between 18-22, they must be returning to full-time second-level education in a recognised school or college in the autumn of the year you are applying.
Opening the scheme earlier today, Minister Humphreys said: “I am delighted to announce that the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance for 2022 is now open for applications.
“I am delighted to secure over €58 million for the scheme this year - recognising the pressures that families with school-going children are under at this time of year.
“As part of a number of targeted measures in Budget 2022, I am increasing the rates of payment this year.
“I’ve also widened the eligibility for lone parents by increasing the income limits for single-parent families to match those of two-parent families.
Minister Humphreys continued: “My Department will process and issue automatic payments to some 120,000 families in July and I would urge all families to check their eligibility for this important scheme.
“The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance will also be paid to families who are availing of the Temporary Protection Directive for Ukraine on the same eligibility criteria as Irish families.
“This scheme is extremely important in supporting families in dealing with what is a very expensive time of year.
“I would advise anyone seeking further information on this scheme to contact their local Intreo Office or visit MyWelfare.ie.”
Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance payments will be paid to over 120,000 families during the week beginning July 11, 2022.
The Department of Social Protection is currently processing these payments and customers will receive written confirmation of their entitlement by this week (from June 20), to let them know of their automatic entitlement.
If you do not receive notification from the Department of an automated payment, you should make an application online on www.MyWelfare.ie even if they received a payment last year.
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