Families to receive an extra €25 per child
FAMILIES who qualify for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance will get an extra €25 per child when the annual payment kicks in next month.
The allowance will be paid to almost 110,000 families from July – with families not automatically entitled encouraged to make an application before the deadline in September.
FAMILIES who qualify for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance will get an extra €25 per child when the annual payment kicks in next month.
The national, once-off, means-tested payment, will increase to €150 for children aged 4–11 – a €25 increase on last’s year’s €125.
There’s also been a €25 increase from €250 to €275 for children aged 12 and over.
According to Employment Affairs and Social Protection minister, Regina Doherty: “Many families can be under much pressure with back-to-school costs – I would urge them to check their eligibility for this scheme which provides a once-off payment to assist with the costs of school clothing and footwear.
“While the benefit will be automatically paid to almost 110,000 families in respect of approximately 200,000 children already registered with us, I would recommend others to check out the scheme to see if they are eligible.
“The income limits for this payment have been adjusted to ensure that the increases in social welfare payment rates introduced by Budget 2019 do not negatively impact on people’s entitlement to the allowance.”
The Department is currently processing payments and families will have written confirmation before the end of June informing them of their automatic entitlement.
Payments will start to be issued from the week beginning July 8.
Families who do not receive notification from the Department of an automated payment by the end of June will need to make an application, even if they received a payment last year.
To qualify for the allowance, a person must be receiving certain social welfare payments or taking part in training, employment or adult education schemes.
The application form will be available from June 24 in all Intreo offices, by emailing BSCFA@welfare.ie or at www.welfare.ie – where further details on the scheme and eligibility is available.
