Applications for social welfare boost of €285 to open next month

As the cost-of-living still looms large in our everyday lives, we all try to cut our cloth to our measure with budgeting and cut-backs.

That's not always doable sometimes however, especially with a young family and school-age children.

Luckily, the social welfare will be opening it's applications for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) next month to help with all the extra expenses that come with it.

School kids have not broken up for their summer break just yet, but this is a great help for parents and guardians all over Ireland to get ahead of the incoming school year and to prepare everything they'll need, especially if there's more than one child heading to school in September.

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Eligibility

To qualify for the BSCFA, you must adhere to the following criteria:

• You are getting a qualifying social welfare payment, or are participating in an approved employment, education or training support scheme
• Your household is within the BSCFA income limits
• You and each child you are claiming the BSCFA for are resident in Ireland
• The child must be aged between 4 and 17 by September 30 in the year you apply
• The child must be aged between 18 and 22 and returning to full-time second level education in a recognised school or college in the autumn of the year you apply

Household Income

The BSCFA is means tested which means all of your income and any income from anyone else living in the house will be assessed. 

This includes:

• Wages
• Savings
• Property owned
• Shares

Weekly income limits are based on how many children are your dependent, see below:

• Income limit for one child is €695
• €756 for two children
• €818 for three children

The income limit is increased by €62 for every additional child.

Rate of Pay

• €160 for children aged 4 to 11
• €285 for children ages 18 to 22

How to Apply

The quickest way to apply is through MyWelfare.ie with the application opened from June until September.

You may receive the payment automatically if you have applied in previous years but if you have not received a notification of the awarded allowance you may need to reapply.

You can find more information here