The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is a crucial financial aid aimed at assisting families with the added expenses of clothing and footwear as children prepare to return to school each autumn. This means-tested, once-off payment is available to eligible families between June 1st and September 30th every year. Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance
Qualifying Payments
To be eligible for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, you must be in receipt of one of the following:
- A qualifying social protection payment
- Participation in an approved employment, education, or training support scheme
Conditions for Eligibility
To qualify for the allowance, you must meet the following conditions:
- Qualified Child Increase (QCI): You must be in receipt of an increase for a qualified child (IQC) for each child you are claiming the allowance for, except in specific circumstances.
- Child’s Age: Children being claimed for must be between the ages of 4 and 17, or between 18 and 22 and returning to second-level education in the autumn.
- Income Limit: The assessable income for your household must fall within a set income limit.
- Residency: You and each child you are claiming the allowance for must be resident in the State.
Rates of Payment
The rates of payment for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance are as follows:
- For children aged 4 to 11: €160
- For children aged 12 to 22: €285
Please note, children aged between 18 and 22 must be in second-level education to qualify for the allowance.
Applying for the Allowance
The application process for the 2024 Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme will open in June 2024. Many eligible recipients will receive the payment automatically through a matching process in the department. Notifications will be issued through MyWelfare accounts or by post in June.
If you haven’t received an award notification and you meet the qualifying conditions, you will need to make an application. You can apply online through MyWelfare.ie, or if you face difficulties, you can contact the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance team by phone or email for assistance. The closing date for applications is September 30th of the scheme year.
Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance