Applications for Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance now open

Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, has announced that applications for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance are now open. 

This allowance is a once-off payment that is made to eligible families to help them with the cost of sending their children back to school.

This year, the rate of payment is €160 for children aged between 4 and 11, and €285 for children aged 12 years and over in second level education.

More than 118,000 families will automatically receive the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance next month, on the week beginning July 8th.

The Department of Social Protection confirmed that €65.2 million has been secured for the scheme this year.

Speaking about opening applications today, Minister Humphreys stated, “I am delighted to announce that the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance for 2024 opens for applications today”.

“This is a very important scheme within my Department - recognising the financial pressures that many families face in relation to back-to-school costs”.

“I’m pleased to confirm that more than 118,000 families - in respect of 207,000 children - will receive the support automatically next month and are currently being notified by my Department”.

She added, “Anyone who does not receive a notification can contact my Department directly to check their eligibility.”

The Minister also revealed that making education as affordable as possible for people is “a key priority for this Government”. Humphreys went on to detail the Hot School Meals Programme, which has been expanded since she became Minister.

“As Minister, I’m very proud to be delivering the biggest ever expansion of the Hot School Meals Programme. This scheme began with just 30 schools when I became Minister. Under this expansion, the Hot School Meals Programme will grow to over 2,000 schools”.

“My ambition is that every primary school child in the country will be receiving a hot meal in 2025. This is well ahead of our original target to make Hot School Meals universal in Primary Schools by 2030”.

Families who do not receive notification from the Department of an automated payment should make an application online on www.MyWelfare.ie even if they received a payment last year.

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