Thousands of Irish parents will start receiving a cash boost from today as part of once-off changes to the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance.
The payment is available to help families amid the rising cost of living in Ireland and the boost was issued in a bid to provide extra support ahead of the start of a particularly expensive school year.
The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance provides a once-off payment to eligible families towards the cost of school clothing and footwear.
READ MORE: Thousands of Irish people could be due €1,000 today thanks to new scheme
The rates of payment for each child have been increased this year by €10 to €160 for children aged 4 - 11 and to €285 for children aged 12 years and over in second-level education.
Ukrainian families who have moved to Ireland due to the war will also benefit from the scheme.
Applications remain open, and you may qualify for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance if you are:
- Getting a social welfare payment (including Working Family Payment and Back to Work Family Dividend or a Health Service Executive payment, or
- Taking part in an approved employment scheme (back-to-work scheme) or
- Taking part in a recognised education or training course, or
- Getting a Daily Expenses Allowance for a child in education (or for yourself if you are 18–22 and returning to full-time second-level education), or
- Involved in an Area Partnership Scheme, or
- Attending a FET (formerly Fás) training course
Your child must be aged between 4-17 on 30 September. If they are aged between 18-22, they must be returning to full-time second-level education in a recognised school or college in the autumn of the year you are applying.
Any payments awarded after today will also include the €100 increase for each child in a single payment awarded to the family.
Opening the scheme last month, Minister Humphreys said: “As part of a number of targeted measures in Budget 2022, I am increasing the rates of payment this year.
“I’ve also widened the eligibility for lone parents by increasing the income limits for single-parent families to match those of two-parent families.
Minister Humphreys continued: “My Department will process and issue automatic payments to some 120,000 families in July and I would urge all families to check their eligibility for this important scheme.
“The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance will also be paid to families who are availing of the Temporary Protection Directive for Ukraine on the same eligibility criteria as Irish families.
“This scheme is extremely important in supporting families in dealing with what is a very expensive time of year.
“I would advise anyone seeking further information on this scheme to contact their local Intreo Office or visit MyWelfare.ie.”
Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance payments started being paid to over 120,000 families, and you should have received written confirmation of entitlement by June 20 to let you know of automatic payment.
If you do not receive notification from the Department of an automated payment, you should make an application online on www.MyWelfare.ie even if you received a payment last year.
You will receive the €100 cash boost on top of the increased rate if you apply before September 30, 2022.
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