Latest news with #Back-to-SchoolClothingandFootwearAllowance
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Irish families on social welfare told to apply for €160 or €285 extra cash before closing date as thousands more qualify
The new move is expected to benefit around 2,300 extra children CASH BOOST Irish families on social welfare told to apply for €160 or €285 extra cash before closing date as thousands more qualify IRISH families on social welfare have been urged to apply for a key €160 or €285 payment. Thousands more children will qualify for the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance this year after it was extended to include a new group. 3 The scheme runs from June to September each year, with payments beginning in early July Credit: Getty Images - Getty 3 Applications for the payment will close on September 30 Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary confirmed the change in response to a parliamentary question, saying the scheme will now cover children for whom Foster Care Allowance is being paid. The new move is expected to benefit around 2,300 extra children. Minister Calleary said: 'Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance eligibility is being extended to include children for whom Foster Care Allowance is being paid. "This Government acknowledges the important role that carers, including foster carers, play and remains fully committed to supporting them.' The BSCFA is a once-off annual payment to help parents and guardians cover the cost of clothing and footwear ahead of the school year. It is worth €160 for children aged four to 11 and €285 for those aged 12 to 22 in full-time second-level education. Minister Calleary explained that applicants must satisfy several qualifying conditions, including receiving a relevant social protection payment and having a household income within the scheme's limits. He noted: 'In order to qualify for the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, an applicant must satisfy a number of qualifying conditions, one of which requires the applicant's household income to be within the relevant income limits. "The income limits for the scheme are increased annually as part of the budget process.' For 2025, the weekly income limit is €694 for a family with one child. Major warning over emergency social welfare scam texts as thousands could be targeted For two children, the limit rises to €756, and for three children it is €818. Families with four children can earn up to €880 a week and still qualify. The limit is then increased from €880 by €62 for each additional child in the household, providing extra flexibility for larger families. All dependent children, including those over 18 in third level education, will be counted when applying the income limit. When assessing income from wages, the DSP looks at income before tax - but PRSI and a standard travel allowance of up to €20 each week is not included. Savings, investments, shares and property - but not your own home - are also assessed as part of the means test. Income from certain supports, including Foster Care Allowance, Child Benefit, Working Family Payment and others, is not counted towards the limit. CLOSING DATE The scheme runs from June to September each year, with payments beginning in early July. Applications for the payment will close on September 30. People have been urged to apply before the closing date if they have applied for a social welfare payment and are waiting for a decision on their application. They should also apply if they are waiting for a decision on an appeal for a social welfare payment.
Irish Independent
16-07-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Thousands of Limerick families urged to check eligibility for government payment
The Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, given by the Department of Social Protection, provides financial support to eligible families with the cost of school uniforms and footwear ahead of the upcoming term. Last year, 6,618 Limerick families received the payment, and a similar number is expected to benefit again this year. The allowance is set at €160 for children aged 4 to 11, and €285 for children aged 12 and over in second-level education. In total, over 126,000 families across Ireland will receive payments this week, covering more than 221,000 children, with more than €47.5 million being distributed. Eligible families who qualify automatically will be notified by post or via their account. Those who have not received a notification are encouraged to apply before the September 30 deadline. Manual applications will be processed and paid once eligibility is confirmed. Welcoming the payments, Minister of State Niall Collins, Limerick County TD, said the scheme offers much-needed support: 'Over 6,000 families in Limerick received these payments last year which demonstrates the extent to which they are really making a difference. 'These back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance payments are a really welcome help to eligible families in meeting the costs associated with children starting and returning to school.' Application details are available through the Department of Social Protection website or
The Irish Sun
14-07-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
Cash boost as €160 or €285 social welfare payment hit accounts of 126,000 TODAY as ‘check eligibility' alert issued
THOUSANDS of families are set for a major boost as a huge social welfare payment is set to land in their accounts within hours. Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary, has announced that over 126,000 families will receive the 2 Dara Calleary announced the boost can still be bagged up until September 30 Credit: PA 2 Thousands of families will see €160 or €285 cash sent to their bank accounts Credit: Getty Images - Getty The payment is designed to support eligible families with the There are two rates of payment for the scheme, which are €160 for children aged 4 to 11 and €285 for children aged 12 years and over in The payments totalling more than a whopping €47,500,000 will be made this week to over 126,000 families with over 221,000 They will be notified if an automated payment is sent to families by post or through their MyWelfare account on their official website. READ MORE ON CASH BOOSTS Commenting on the boost for families, Calleary said: "I am delighted to announce that the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance payments for 2025 commence from today. "This scheme is so important in terms of supporting "This week, my Department will issue automatic payments to over 126,000 families in respect of over 221,000 children." For those who haven't been notified or applied for the major boost, the scheme is also open for applications until September 30 for eligible families. Most read in Money The payment will be issued once the application is processed and if eligible for it. He added: "The costs associated with children both starting and returning to school can put a lot of financial pressure on families throughout the country. Jack Chambers discusses his family budget & criticism not enough done for kids on surgery wait lists "The Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance provides valuable support to families to assist with these costs and I would urge anybody who has not yet applied to check their eligibility for the scheme." REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ALLOWANCE You can get the payment 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 Your household is within the BSCFA income limits (see 'Income limits' below) You and each child you claim the BSCFA for are residents 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 it, but there are some exceptions to this. If you get a qualifying social welfare payment but don't get a Child Support Payment, you can claim the payment 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. However, you must meet the other rules to get a BSCFA. Your child must be aged between 4-17 on 30 September in the year you apply, or 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. And your HOUSEHOLD INCOME Your total household income must be less than the amounts set out in the table below. The total household income includes: Your weekly social welfare or Health Service Executive payments, and Any other income you may have, including wages Capital (such as savings, investments, and any property you have excluding your own home) When your income is assessed from your wages, the department looks at your income before it's taxed, but they don't include PRSI and a standard travel allowance of up to €20 a week. However, some social welfare payments are not included in the means test. Payments not included in the means test include child benefits, rent supplements, working family payments, higher-level education grants, blind welfare allowances, and so on. All capital is assessed in the means test, including savings, investments, shares and property that's not your own home. The income limit is increased by €62 for each additional dependent child.
Irish Independent
08-07-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
When is the Back-to-School Allowance paid – and do I need to apply?
More than 114,000 families will automatically receive the allowance this month, without needing to make an application. When is the first payment? The Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance will be paid to families from during the week beginning July 14. How much will I receive under the scheme this year? 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. Students aged between 18-22 years must be returning to full-time second-level education in a recognised school or college this autumn to retain an entitlement to the payment. How do I know if I will receive the allowance? Many people will get the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance payment automatically, you will be informed through your MyWelfare account or by post if you will receive it. If you have not been notified and you satisfy the qualifying conditions, you will need to make an application even if you have automatically got the payment in previous years, the Department of Social Protection advises. Do you need to apply? ADVERTISEMENT Learn more Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary has said 75pc of payments under the scheme 'will be paid without the need to make an application'. More than 114,000 families will automatically receive the payment from next week. Families will receive confirmation informing them of their automatic entitlement on their MyWelfare account or by post. The Department of Social Protection advises those who do not receive notification from the department of an automated payment should make an application online on MyWelfare, even if they received a payment last year. When do applications close? The closing date to apply for this year's allowance is September 30, 2025. Who is eligible to receive the allowance? Each child being claimed for must be aged between 4 and 17 or aged between 18 and 22, and returning to second-level education in September. A parent or guardian must be in receipt of a qualifying social protection payment or participating in an approved employment, education or training support scheme to be eligible. They must also be in receipt of Child Support Payment for each child – except in certain circumstances – and the assessable income must be within a set income limit. The person claiming the allowance and the child in respect of whom the allowance is claimed must be resident in the State. Who do I contact with queries? The Department of Social Protection. It is contactable by email and operates dedicated phone lines 071-9193318 and 0818-11-11-13 to answer enquiries relating to the allowance Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.
Irish Daily Mirror
23-06-2025
- General
- Irish Daily Mirror
Eligibility criteria for back to school scheme extended for thousands
Thousands of households will be able to receive this year's Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance after the eligibility for the scheme was extended. The one-off, means tested payment helps families with the cost of clothing and footwear for school. The rate of pay for 2025 is €160 for children aged 4 - 11 and €285 for children aged 12 years and over in second level education, Dublin Live reports. Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary has confirmed that the eligibility for the scheme is being extended to now include children for whom Foster Care Allowance is being paid, meaning an estimated 2,300 children will now qualify for the grant. 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.' How can I apply for the allowance? The allowance is handed out automatically, which means that most people who are eligible for the necessary payment will receive it directly. However, sometimes this might not be the case and you may need to apply for it. Find out more about how to apply here.
