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Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance

From: Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

How the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance works

The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is a means-tested once-off payment aimed at helping families with the extra costs when children start school each autumn.

How to qualify

To qualify for Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, you must meet the following conditions:

  • The applicant (parent or guardian) must, for at least one week between 01 June 2019 and 30 September 2019 be in receipt of a qualifying social protection payment or participating in an approved employment, education or training support scheme.
  • An increase for a qualified child (IQC) must be paid to the applicant in respect of each child for whom the allowance is being claimed (except in certain circumstances).
  • Each child being claimed for must be:

Aged between 4 and 17 on or before 30 September 2019 or

Aged between 18 and 22 on or before 30 September 2019, and returning to

second-level education in the autumn of 2019.

  • The assessable income for the household must be within a set income limit.
  • The applicant and the child (or children) in respect of whom the allowance is claimed must be resident in the State.

Rates of payment

    Child’s age Rate
    4 – 11 €150
    12 – 22 €275

Remember, children between 18 and 22 years old must be in second-level education to qualify.

Apply

Many customers will receive an automated payment. Letters issue to these customers in June.

If you do not receive a letter confirming an automated payment you will need to submit an application, even if you received the payment last year.

You can apply online for Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance on www.mywelfare.ie . To apply online you must have a Public Services Card and a verified MyGovID account. If you do not have a Public Services Card, you can make an appointment to get one at www.mywelfare.ie.

Aternatively, you can submit an application form. Application forms are available:

  • In Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection offices,
  • By texting form BTSCFA followed by your name and address to 51909,
  • By emailing bscfa@welfare.ie requesting a form and
  • By download from this website.

The closing date for receipt of applications is 30 September.

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Operational Guidelines

Operational Guidelines - Back to School Clothing and Footwear Scheme

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