
Families reminded of social welfare boost as applications open
Families are being reminded of the opening date to apply for a €285 social welfare payment which could be paid more than once.
The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme opens on June 1, 2025, with applications accepted up until September 30, 2025.
The annual payment is a means of helping parents with expenses linked to sending children back to school in September. The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme opens on June 1, 2025, with applications accepted up until September 30, 2025. Pic: Getty Images
The social welfare payment is a one-time means-tested payment designed to help families with clothing and footwear expenses for school-attending students.
For many families, the money is paid automatically. Families will be notified via their MyWelfare account or via the post by the end of June — if you do not get a notice, you may need to apply.
Eligible recipients of the allowance are those already in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment or involved in an approved employment/education or support scheme. For children aged between 4 and 11 years old, it is €160 which increases to €285 for children between 12 and 22. Pic: Getty Images
The recipient and child(ren) you are applying for must be resident in Ireland.
It is also necessary to be in receipt of the Child Support payment for each child, with the exception of specific circumstances.
The money paid differs depending on the age of the children you are being paid for. Foster children are not eligible due to the foster parents receiving Foster Care Allowance, which includes assistance with the cost of clothing and footwear for the child. Pic: Getty Images
For children aged between 4 and 11 years old the payment is €160 which increases to €285 for children between 12 and 22.
Those aged between 18 and 22 must be in second-level education to qualify.
Foster children are not eligible for the payment due to the foster parents receiving Foster Care Allowance, which includes assistance with the cost of clothing and footwear for the child.
If you do not receive notice that you are receiving the payment by the end of June, you will need to apply.
Applications can be done online at MyWelfare, with applications opening in June.
Alternatively, an application form can be printed and sent to the address provided on the form.
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