Social welfare Ireland: Eligibility for lump sum payment extended to thousands of households
Eligibility for the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance has been extended for thousands of households.
The scheme provides a once-off, means tested payment to eligible families towards the cost of school clothing and footwear. The rate of payment for 2025 is €160 for children aged 4 - 11 and €285 for children aged 12 years and over in second level education.
Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary has confirmed eligibility for the scheme is being extended to include children for whom Foster Care Allowance is being paid. It is estimated that up to 2,300 children, for whom Foster Care Allowance is being paid, will now qualify for the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance.
Minister Calleary said: 'Foster carers play an essential role in our care system, and I am committed to supporting them. That's why I am really pleased to announce that children for whom Foster Care Allowance is being paid will now be eligible for the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance.
'In the Programme for Government, we said that we would examine the Back-to-School eligibility criteria to allow flexibility for foster carers and I am pleased to fulfil this commitment.
"We expect some 2,300 children in foster care will now be eligible for this important allowance and I encourage foster care families to apply online at MyWelfare.'
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