Earlier this year, in response to the current cost of living crisis, the government announced a number of cash boosts to ease the pressure on households.
Among the payments brought in to ease the pressure on people was a €200 cost of living boost followed by €100 added to the regular Child Benefit payment.
The next increase will be given to parents of children of school-going age and will mark the final payment boost as part of the spring package.
A boost of €100 will be added to the standard Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance social welfare payment.
In order to receive this final €100 cash boost before the kids head back to school, recipients must meet a number of criteria.
Here’s everything you need to know
Those eligible for the increase must be getting a qualifying social welfare payment or participating in an approved employment, education, or training support scheme.
Your household must also be within the BSCFA income limit. You and each child you are claiming the BSCFA payment for must also be residents of Ireland.
If you are getting a social welfare payment, you must be getting an Increase for a Qualified Child (IQC) with your payment.
There are some exceptions to this, for example:
- You are getting a qualifying social welfare payment, but you are not getting an increase for your child because the rules of the payment do not provide for a child payment. Maternity Benefits and Adoptive Benefits are examples of this. You can still claim BSCFA if you meet the other BSCFA rules.
- You are getting a qualifying social welfare payment, but you are not getting an increase for your child because your spouse or partner’s income is over the specified limit for your payment. You can still claim BSCFA if your overall household income is within the BSCFA income limits. See ‘Income limits’ below.
You will also be deemed ineligible for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance if your child isn’t:
- Aged between 4-17 on 30 September – the year you are applying for BSCFA
- Aged between 18-22 and returning to full-time second-level education in a recognised school or college in the autumn of the year you are applying for BSCFA
There are also income limits, as your total household income must be less than the amounts set out – which can be found at this link.
Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys opened applications for the 2023 Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, last week.
The payment will begin arriving in people’s accounts from the week starting July 10, 2023.
