Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance

About the Payment

The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BTSCFA) helps you meet the cost of uniforms and footwear for children going to school. The scheme operates from 1st June to 30th September each year.

To get the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, you (the parent or guardian) must meet a number of conditions:

You must be getting certain social welfare payments or payments for training, employment schemes or adult education and getting an increase in that payment for the child
Your total household income must be below a certain amount
The child/student must be aged between 2 and 22 on or before 30 September of the year you apply and must be in full-time education at a recognised school or college

The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is a means tested payment (see income limits below).

New administrative arrangements for 2011

The administrative arrangements for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance in 2011 are different from the arrangements that applied in previous years. If you have automatically qualify you should have received a letter from the Department of Social Protection in June 2011 telling you how and when the payment will be made.

If you do not qualify automatically you must apply in the normal way - (see How to Apply below.)

Rates of Payment

The allowance paid for each eligible child aged 2-11 on or before 30 September 2011 is €200.

The allowance paid for each eligible child aged 12-22 on or before 30 September 2011 is €305.

Income Limits

Couple with	Income Limit in 2011
1 Child	€563.60
2 Children	€593.40
3 Children	€623.20
4 Children	€653*

*The income limit is increased by €29.80 for each additional child.

Any income you get from Rent Supplement or Mortgage Interest Supplement, Family Income Supplement, Blind Welfare Allowance, Rehabilitation Training Allowance, rehabilitative employment (up to €120 per week), work as a home help, Domiciliary Care Allowance, Mobility Allowance and the Higher Education Grant Scheme is not counted.

Rules

You may qualify for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance if you are:

Getting a social welfare payment (including Family Income Supplement) or a Health Service Executive payment, or
Taking part in an approved employment scheme, or
Taking part in a recognised education or training course, or
Involved in an Area Partnership Scheme, or
Attending a FÁS, Fáilte Ireland or LES training scheme

How to Apply

If you have automatically qualified you will receive a letter from the Department of Social Protection telling you how and when your payment will be made. If you do not automatically qualify you must apply for the payment.

- APPLICATION FORM: To apply fill in the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance form (pdf) and return to the address below before 30th September 2011.

You can also request a form from the Department of Social Protection as follows:

Lo-call Information Line at 1890 66 22 44 (from the Republic of Ireland only).
By Text: text the words FORM BTSCFA followed by your name and address to 51909

Completed application forms together with supporting documentation should be returned to:

Department of Social Protection, PO Box 13, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal.

Related Information

Other information you might find useful related to this topic includes:

More Information

For further detailed information visit www.welfare.ie or contact the INOU Welfare to Work Section by telephone on 01 856 0088, through our Online Contact Us Form or by e-mail at welfareinfo@inou.ie

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