Social welfare Ireland: Families urged to apply for lump sum cash boost next month
Families have been told to apply for a lump sum payment scheme worth €285 if they are not informed that they are automatically eligible.
The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) is a payment to help families with the cost of school uniforms and shoes. Many families receive the payment automatically.
The current rate of payment is €160 for children aged between four and 11, and €285 for children aged 12-22. Children aged between 18-22 must be returning to full-time second-level education in a recognised school in the autumn of 2025 in order to qualify.
If you are paid automatically, you don't need to apply for the BSCFA and you will get notified on your MyWelfare account or by post before the end of June 2025.
If you are not notified by the end of June, you will need to apply for the scheme. The closing date to apply for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is 30 September 2025.
Here's everything you need to know about being eligible for the scheme.
How do I qualify for the BSCFA?
You can get the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) if you have a child that qualifies, and:
You are getting a qualifying social welfare payment, or are participating in an approved employment, education or training support scheme. See a list of qualifying payments and schemes on Gov.ie
Your household is within the BSCFA income limits (see 'Income limits' below)
You and each child you claim the BSCFA for are resident in Ireland.
If you are getting a social welfare payment, you must be getting a Child Support Payment (previously called an Increase for a Qualified Child or IQC) with your payment. There are some exceptions to this (see 'I don't get a Child Support Payment' below).
If you are getting a qualifying social welfare payment but you don't get a Child Support Payment, you can still claim BSCFA if:
The rules of your payment do not provide for a child payment (for example, Maternity Benefit and Adoptive Benefit), or
Your spouse or partner's income is over the specified limit for your payment, but your overall household income is within the BSCFA income limits.
You must meet the other rules for getting BSCFA.
To get the BSCFA, your child must be:
Aged between 4-17 on 30 September in the year you apply
Aged between 18-22 and returning to full-time second-level education in a recognised school or college in the autumn of the year you apply
Your child must be resident in Ireland.
How to apply for BSCFA?
You don't need to apply for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) if you get the payment automatically.
The Department of Social Protection (DSP) will let you know if you are paid automatically using your MyWelfare account, or by post.
If you don't hear from the DSP by the end of June, you must apply for BSCFA online, even if you got the BSCFA payment last year.
You can find out more information here.
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