Latest news with #IncreaseforaQualifiedChild
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.
The Irish Sun
30-06-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
Major alert for thousands as €160 or €285 payment to land in accounts in days – and you may not even need to apply
THOUSANDS are set for a major boost as a huge payment is set to land in accounts in just days. The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) helps families with the cost of And it is only two weeks until the payment is made on the week of July 14. Many If you are set to receive it automatically, you should have been notified on your MyWelfare account or by post by 9 June 2025. If you weren't notified, you will need to apply for the READ MORE IN MONEY Applications opened on June 9, and the closing date is September 30, so despite payments starting in July you can still apply. Since June 17 this year, families who get the Foster Care Allowance can also apply for the BSCFA. 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 resident in Ireland. Most read in Money 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 it. New online application system opens for €360 or €180 Domiciliary Care Allowance applications 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, 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 (see 'Income limits' below). But you must meet the other rules for getting BSCFA. You 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 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 (HSE) 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 DSP 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: WEEKLY INCOME LIMITS The Department of Social Protection (DSP) counts all dependent children when applying the income limit. This includes: Your children who are aged under 4 Your children aged 18 to 22 who are in third level education. 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. If your child is aged between 4 and 11, the rate of payment is €160. If they are between 12 and 22, the payment is €285. 1 The payment is set to land in accounts in days Credit: Getty Images - Getty
Irish Daily Mirror
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.
Dublin Live
12-05-2025
- General
- Dublin Live
Social welfare Ireland: Families urged to apply for lump sum cash boost next month
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info 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 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. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Dublin Live
11-05-2025
- General
- Dublin Live
Social welfare Ireland payment warning as one group may not get €285 allowance
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info One group of recipients may no longer receive a popular social welfare payment as they are being urged to reapply. The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance applications open in the coming weeks - however, some parents that previously automatically qualified may not this year. In general, if your child is aged between 18-22, you could be asked to provide evidence that they are returning to full-time second-level education in a recognised school in the autumn of 2025 - this is one of the criteria for this age group. You will know if this is the case, as the Department of Social Protection (DSP) will let you know if you will be 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. If your child is aged between four and 11 on 30 September, you could qualify for a cash boost of €160, whereas, if your child is aged between 12 and 22, you may receive €285. Applications for the 2025 BSCFA season will open in June. 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 Your household is within the BSCFA income limits 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. 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. Foster children do not qualify for the BSCFA. This is because foster parents get a Foster Care Allowance, which includes help with the cost of clothing and footwear for the child. You can find out more about the payment here. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
