Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance

Minister Humphreys Announces Increased Payments for the 2022 Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance

From Department of Social Protection

Published on 11 July 2022

Last updated on 11 July 2022

• Some 124,000 families in respect of 220,000 children to be paid this week
• Increase to income limits to benefit lone parents
• Extra €100 payment to be paid into bank accounts from next Monday 18th
• Ukrainian families who have moved to Ireland due to the war to benefit

Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys TD, has announced that the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance will be paid to 124,000 families, in respect of 220,000 children, from today.

The Minister also confirmed that the extra €100 payment she announced last week to assist families with back to school costs will be paid into bank accounts from next Monday, July 18th.

The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance remains open for applications until September 30th. A total of €84 million has been secured for the scheme this year – an increase of €26 million.

In total, it is estimated that 151,000 families and 262,000 children will benefit from the scheme by the time it closes at the end of September.

This particular scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families towards the cost of school clothing and footwear. The scheme supported over 137,000 families with Back to School costs last year.

Minister Humphreys increased the allowance by €10 in Budget 2022, with additional changes to make more one-parent families eligible. As part of the Government’s €67 million back-to-school package announced last week, Minister Humphreys increased the allowance by €100 per child.

This means that for 2022, the total amount being paid for each qualified child aged 4–11 years will be €260 and the rate payable for each eligible child aged 12 and over will be €385.

The payment will be made in two stages for those who receive their allowance today. The original awarded amount will be paid this week, followed by the additional €100 payment per qualifying child next week.

Any payments awarded after today will include the €100 increase for each child in a single payment awarded to the family.

Furthermore, Ukrainian families who have moved to Ireland due to the war will also benefit under the scheme.

Making the announcement today, Minister Humphreys said:

“I am pleased that from today, the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance will be paid to tens of thousands of families across the State.

“This scheme recognises the pressures families with school going children are under at this time of year, particularly given the Cost of Living challenges that people are facing.

“On top of the increase I secured in the Budget, I also announced an additional €100 payment to help ease the burden facing families.

“My Department has put the processes in place quickly – ensuring that this additional money will be paid from next Monday.

“I’m pleased too that as a result of changes I introduced in the Budget, the rates of payment will be increased for lone parents.

“These changes and increases are really important in terms of assisting families with purchasing the likes of school uniforms and other back-to-school related costs.

Minister Humphreys continued:

“My Department will process and issue payments to some 124,000 families this week and I would urge all families to check their eligibility for this important scheme and apply before 30 September.

“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.

“I would advise anyone seeking further information on this scheme to contact their local Intreo Centre or visit MyWelfare.ie.”

Note for Editors

The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance provides a once-off payment to eligible families towards the cost of school clothing and footwear.

The allowance paid for each eligible child aged 4-11 years on or before 30 September 2022 will be €260 while an allowance of €385 will be paid for each eligible child aged 12-22 years on or before 30 September 2022. Students aged between 18-22 years must be returning to full-time second-level education in a recognised school or college in the autumn of 2022 to retain an entitlement to payment.

The Department will have dedicated phone lines 071-919-3318 and 0818-11-11-13 to answer enquiries relating to the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance during usual business hours, Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. People also have the choice of emailing the Department at bscfa@welfare.ie if they have an enquiry regarding their application or entitlement.

The closing date to apply for this year’s Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is 30 September 2022.

Further information on the eligibility criteria for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is available at www.gov.ie/bscfa