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Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance
From Department of Social Protection
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From Department of Social Protection
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Important note
The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance for 2023 will open in June 2023.
If you automatically qualify for the 2023 Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance payment you will receive an award notification to your MyWelfare account or by post.
If you do not automatically qualify and have not received an award notification, you will need to apply for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance online at www.MyWelfare.ie
The closing date to apply for the 2023 Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is 30 September 2023.
The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is a means-tested once-off payment aimed at helping families with the extra costs of clothing and footwear when children start school each autumn. The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme is open from 1 June to 30 September each year.
To qualify for Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, you must meet the following conditions:
aged between 4 and 17 or
aged between 18 and 22, and returning to second-level education in the autumn
| Child’s age | Rate |
| 4 – 11 | €160 |
| 12 – 22 | €285 |
Remember, children between 18 and 22 years old must be in second-level education to qualify.
The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is being increased by €100 for each eligible child under the scheme. The amount being paid for each eligible child aged 4–11 years will be €260 and the rate payable for each eligible child aged 12 and over will be €385.
This is a temporary measure for the current school year.
Through a matching process in the department, many people will receive the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance payment automatically. Notifications will issue to your MyWelfare accounts or by post in June.
If you have not received an award notification for Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, and you satisfy the qualifying conditions, you will need to make an application online at www.MyWelfare.ie, even if you have automatically received the payment in previous years.
To apply online you must have a verified MyGovID account. Details are available on how to verify your MyGovID account.
The closing date to apply for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance for 2023 is 30 September 2023.
Operational guidelines describe the processes and procedures that staff in the department follow when carrying out their work.