Latest news with #BSCFA
The Irish Sun
14-07-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
Cash boost as €160 or €285 social welfare payment hit accounts of 126,000 TODAY as ‘check eligibility' alert issued
THOUSANDS of families are set for a major boost as a huge social welfare payment is set to land in their accounts within hours. Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary, has announced that over 126,000 families will receive the 2 Dara Calleary announced the boost can still be bagged up until September 30 Credit: PA 2 Thousands of families will see €160 or €285 cash sent to their bank accounts Credit: Getty Images - Getty The payment is designed to support eligible families with the There are two rates of payment for the scheme, which are €160 for children aged 4 to 11 and €285 for children aged 12 years and over in The payments totalling more than a whopping €47,500,000 will be made this week to over 126,000 families with over 221,000 They will be notified if an automated payment is sent to families by post or through their MyWelfare account on their official website. READ MORE ON CASH BOOSTS Commenting on the boost for families, Calleary said: "I am delighted to announce that the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance payments for 2025 commence from today. "This scheme is so important in terms of supporting "This week, my Department will issue automatic payments to over 126,000 families in respect of over 221,000 children." For those who haven't been notified or applied for the major boost, the scheme is also open for applications until September 30 for eligible families. Most read in Money The payment will be issued once the application is processed and if eligible for it. He added: "The costs associated with children both starting and returning to school can put a lot of financial pressure on families throughout the country. Jack Chambers discusses his family budget & criticism not enough done for kids on surgery wait lists "The Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance provides valuable support to families to assist with these costs and I would urge anybody who has not yet applied to check their eligibility for the scheme." REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ALLOWANCE You can get the payment if you have a child that qualifies, and: You are getting a qualifying social welfare payment, or are participating in an approved employment, education or training support scheme. See Your household is within the BSCFA income limits (see 'Income limits' below) You and each child you claim the BSCFA for are residents in Ireland. If you are getting a social welfare payment, you must be getting a Child Support Payment (previously called an Increase for a Qualified Child or IQC) with it, but there are some exceptions to this. If you get a qualifying social welfare payment but don't get a Child Support Payment, you can claim the payment if: The rules of your payment do not provide for a child payment (for example, Maternity Benefit and Adoptive Benefit), or Your spouse or partner's income is over the specified limit for your payment, but your overall household income is within the BSCFA income limits. However, you must meet the other rules to get a BSCFA. Your child must be aged between 4-17 on 30 September in the year you apply, or 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 apply. And your HOUSEHOLD INCOME Your total household income must be less than the amounts set out in the table below. The total household income includes: Your weekly social welfare or Health Service Executive payments, and Any other income you may have, including wages Capital (such as savings, investments, and any property you have excluding your own home) When your income is assessed from your wages, the department looks at your income before it's taxed, but they don't include PRSI and a standard travel allowance of up to €20 a week. However, some social welfare payments are not included in the means test. Payments not included in the means test include child benefits, rent supplements, working family payments, higher-level education grants, blind welfare allowances, and so on. All capital is assessed in the means test, including savings, investments, shares and property that's not your own home. The income limit is increased by €62 for each additional dependent child.
The Irish Sun
30-06-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
Major alert for thousands as €160 or €285 payment to land in accounts in days – and you may not even need to apply
THOUSANDS are set for a major boost as a huge payment is set to land in accounts in just days. The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) helps families with the cost of And it is only two weeks until the payment is made on the week of July 14. Many If you are set to receive it automatically, you should have been notified on your MyWelfare account or by post by 9 June 2025. If you weren't notified, you will need to apply for the READ MORE IN MONEY Applications opened on June 9, and the closing date is September 30, so despite payments starting in July you can still apply. Since June 17 this year, families who get the Foster Care Allowance can also apply for the BSCFA. You can get the payment if you have a child that qualifies, and: You are getting a qualifying social welfare payment, or are participating in an approved employment, education or training support scheme. See Your household is within the BSCFA income limits (see 'Income limits' below) You and each child you claim the BSCFA for are resident in Ireland. Most read in Money If you are getting a social welfare payment, you must be getting a Child Support Payment (previously called an Increase for a Qualified Child or IQC) with it, but there are some exceptions to it. New online application system opens for €360 or €180 Domiciliary Care Allowance applications If you get a qualifying social welfare payment but don't get a Child Support Payment, you can claim the payment if: The rules of your payment do not provide for a child payment (for example, Your spouse or partner's income is over the specified limit for your payment, but your overall household income is within the BSCFA income limits (see 'Income limits' below). But you must meet the other rules for getting BSCFA. You child must be aged between 4-17 on 30 September in the year you apply, or 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 apply And your Your total household income must be less than the amounts set out in the table below. The total household income includes: Your weekly social welfare or Health Service Executive (HSE) payments, and Any other income you may have, including wages Capital (such as savings, investments, and any property you have excluding your own home) When your income is assessed from your wages, the DSP looks at your income before it's taxed, but they don't include PRSI and a standard travel allowance of up to €20 a week. However, some social welfare payments are not included in the means test. Payments not included in the means test include: WEEKLY INCOME LIMITS The Department of Social Protection (DSP) counts all dependent children when applying the income limit. This includes: Your children who are aged under 4 Your children aged 18 to 22 who are in third level education. All capital is assessed in the means test, including savings, investments, shares and property that's not your own home. The income limit is increased by €62 for each additional dependent child. If your child is aged between 4 and 11, the rate of payment is €160. If they are between 12 and 22, the payment is €285. 1 The payment is set to land in accounts in days Credit: Getty Images - Getty
Dublin Live
27-06-2025
- General
- Dublin Live
All the social welfare, cost of living, and bill changes in July with plenty of good news
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info There is plenty of good news lined up for the month of July. Between a rule change for a social welfare payment and another scheme remaining open for applications, there is a lot people need to know. Here is everything you need to know for the month of July: Social welfare Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) have opened this month. Some people will automatically qualify for the scheme, with the Department of Social Protection (DSP) expected to let you know if this is the case using your MyWelfare account, or by post. If you don't hear from the DSP by the end of June, you must apply for BSCFA online, even if you got the BSCFA payment last year. Payments for the schemes will begin being made from the week starting Monday, 14 July. If your child is aged between four and 11 on 30 September, you could qualify for a cash boost of €160, whereas, if your child is aged between 12 and 22, you may receive €285. You can find out more about the payment here. Carer's Allowance Carer's Allowance is a weekly social welfare payment to people who care for someone because of their: Age Disability, or Illness (including mental illness) To qualify for the payment, your income must be below a certain amount. If you care for two or more people, your rate of Carer's Allowance is increased by 50% (maximum) each week. If you get another social welfare payment, you may get half-rate Carer's Allowance. In July 2025, the Carer's Allowance income disregard will increase to €625 for a single person and €1,250 for a couple. You can find out more information here. Bills Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) for commercial electric vehicles An emissions-based approach to VRT for category B commercial vehicles is being introduced from 1 July 2025. This will introduce a lower 8% rate for category B vehicles with CO2 emissions of less than 120 grams per kilometre and vehicles with CO2 emissions greater than 120g/km will be at 13.3%. Rent Pressure Zones From 20 June 2025, all private and student-specific accommodation tenancies in Ireland now come under Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) rules. landlords can increase rent once a year by either the rate of inflation or by 2%, whichever is lowest. You can find out more information about it here. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
The Irish Sun
18-06-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
Thousands more Irish qualify for €160 or €285 once-off payment open NOW under ‘flexible' new criteria rules after years
AN estimated 2,300 children across Ireland are now expected to qualify for a once-off payment worth either €160 or €285. The cash boost, expected to 2 Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary confirmed thousands more are now eligible for the payment Credit:2 The BSCFA is paid out at two different rates Credit: Getty Images - Getty The Many families and don't need to apply. However, those who haven't been notified of the payment on their MyWelfare account or through post could miss out on the lump sum. And foster carers, who are the READ MORE IN MONEY The once-off, means tested payment aims to assist eligible families with the cost of school clothing and footwear. And commenting on the latest extension of the payment, Minister for Social Protection He said: "Foster carers play an essential role in our care system, and I am committed to supporting them. "That's why I am really pleased to announce that children for whom Foster Care Allowance is being paid will now be eligible for the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance. MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN "In the Programme for Government, we said that we would examine the Back-to-School eligibility criteria to allow flexibility for foster carers and I am pleased to fulfil this commitment. I'm a mum-of-2 but will never fork out for naff school photos - they're tacky, a rip off and any parent who buys them is either rich or just stupid "We expect some 2,300 children in foster care will now be eligible for this important allowance and I encourage foster care families to apply online at MyWelfare." Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley TD vowed to work alongside Calleary to continue providing further supports for foster carers. She said: "Foster carers look after around 87 per cent of children in State care and they do so much great work every day. "They have campaigned for years for the right to get the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance for the children they care for, and it is fantastic that this now has become a reality." The rates of payment for the 2025 Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme are €160 for children aged 4-11 years and €285 for children aged 12-22 years on or before 30th September 2025. The children must be of age on or before September 30. NO COVER OF EXTRA COSTS MINISTER for Social Protection Dara Calleary last year confirmed that the BSCFA will not cover extra costs parents face ahead of the school year. When asked by But the Calleary said: "Applications for financial support which fall outside the rules and timeframe of the scheme may be considered for an Additional Needs Payment under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme. Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an Additional Needs Payment is encouraged to contact their local Community Welfare Service." And 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 2025 to retain an entitlement to the payment. Deputy Emer Currie, Fine Gael's spokesperson on childcare, said the new criteria is "an extremely welcome move" and urged all those eligible to apply for the cash. She said: "Fine Gael is committed to reducing the cost of education and ensuring that all children reach their full potential at all stages of life. BUDGET MEASURES "Further investment in childcare and education in last year's Budget was further proof of this commitment. "My party in Government has worked hard to ensure every child in both primary and special schools can avail of a hot lunch through the Hot School Meals programme. "Other measures include the Free Schoolbooks Scheme, which covers all students from primary school right through to the Leaving Certificate in the provision of schoolbooks and core classroom resources. "Foster carers currently look after around 87 per cent of children in State care and I know they have campaigned to be included in this scheme." She added: "I will continue to work with my Government colleagues on their behalf to ensure they have the supports they need for the children in their care."
The Irish Sun
16-06-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
Major boost as thousands more children to qualify for €160 or €285 cash payment under new eligibility rules before Govt
THOUSANDS more children will qualify for a €160 or €285 payment under new plans set to be brought before Government tomorrow. Minister for Social Protection The payment is designed to help parents cover the cost of clothing and footwear for returning to school. Children for whom Foster Care Allowance is being paid currently do not qualify for the annual lump sum payment. The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is worth €160 for children aged four to 11 and €285 for kids aged between 12 and 22. Children and young adults must be between these ages on or before September 30 this year in order to qualify for the set amount. READ MORE IN MONEY Those over 18 must be returning to full-time second level education in the autumn of 2025 in order to be eligible. And the 2025 Programme for Government includes the commitment to examine the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance eligibility criteria to allow flexibility for foster carers. It is estimated that up to 2,300 children for whom Foster Care Allowance is being paid will now qualify for the payment under new plans. MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN Last September, Independent TD Michael Lowry asked if Major warning over emergency social welfare scam texts as thousands could be targeted O'Gorman said he raised the issue with He said: "I can inform the Deputy that I have raised the issue of Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance eligibility in respect of foster children with Minister Humphreys, who has informed that the BSCFA is not payable in respect of foster children as the financial support provided to foster parents by Tusla, the foster care allowance, includes provision for the cost of clothing and footwear for the foster child. "I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to work closely with my Government colleagues and with relevant stakeholders in relation to continuing to seek to improve the suite of supports for foster carers." NO COVER OF EXTRA COSTS MINISTER for Social Protection Dara Calleary last year confirmed that the BSCFA will not cover extra costs parents face ahead of the school year. When asked by But the Calleary said: "Applications for financial support which fall outside the rules and timeframe of the scheme may be considered for an Additional Needs Payment under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme. Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an Additional Needs Payment is encouraged to contact their local Community Welfare Service." Last year, payments totalling €57.04m were made to more than 149,500 families in respect of 264,400 qualified children. Many families But those who haven't been notified of the payment on their MyWelfare account or through post could miss out on the lump sum. It is expected to be paid out in the week starting on July 7th. And applications for the payment will close until next year on September 30. Those who apply for the cash later in the summer will receive the payment later than others. 1 The BSCFA is €160 for children aged four to 11 and €285 for those between 12 and 22 Credit: Getty Images - Getty
