27-05-2025
- General
- Irish Daily Mirror
Social welfare group can claim summer lump sum worth at least €160
Thousands of social welfare recipients may be in line for a welcome financial boost this summer, with a Government payout worth at least €160 available.
The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) is returning again this year to help cover the growing cost of uniforms and shoes ahead of the new school term.
This once-yearly lump sum is designed to ease the burden on parents and guardians as they prepare their children for the classroom - but changes to how it's usually issued mean some people who previously qualified automatically may now need to apply manually.
The allowance ranges from €160 to €285 per child, depending on their age, and is available to eligible families receiving social welfare payments or participating in approved employment or education schemes. With applications opening in June, it's important for parents and guardians to check their eligibility now to avoid missing out.
There are two aged-based payment levels for children under the BSCFA lump sum scheme.
Parents or guardians of children aged between four and 11 (as of September 30,2025) may be entitled to €160 per child.
Parents or guardians of children aged between 12 and 22 (as of September 30, 2025) may receive a higher payment of €285 per child, as long as the child is returning to full-time, second-level education in the autumn.
Children must be resident in Ireland, and you must also be living in the State and receiving a qualifying social welfare payment or participating in an approved training or employment scheme. Your household income must also fall within specific limits, and in most cases, you must be receiving a Child Support Payment (formerly called Increase for a Qualified Child or IQC) with your primary welfare payment.
In some cases, you'll be paid automatically. If the Department of Social Protection (DSP) determines you qualify based on your current circumstances, you'll receive a notification via your MyWelfare account or by post.
However, not everyone will be included automatically this year, particularly parents of older children aged 18 to 22. If your child is in this age group, you may be required to provide evidence that they are returning to full-time, second-level education in a recognised school or college.
If you haven't received a letter or message from the DSP by the end of June, you must apply online via MyWelfare, even if you received the payment last year.
If you receive a qualifying social welfare payment but don't receive a child support payment, you may still be eligible for BSCFA if the rules of your primary payment do not include child support (eg maternity benefit or adoptive benefit), or if you're partner's income exceeds the threshold for your main payment, but your total household income is still within the BSCFA limits.
Foster children do not qualify for the BSCFA. That's because foster carers receive a separate Foster Care Allowance, which already includes support for clothing and footwear expenses.
Applications for the 2025 BSCFA season are expected to open in June. If you're not automatically contacted by the DSP, it's your responsibility to submit an application online.
For more information and to check detailed eligibility rules, see the Citizen's Information page here or log in to your MyWelfare account.
