Latest news with #SupplementaryWelfareAllowance
Irish Independent
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Around 2,300 foster children expected to benefit from Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance
Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary is expected to bring a memo to the Government tomorrow to extend the initiative to include foster families. It is estimated around 2,300 children in foster care will now qualify for the BSCFA. The once-off payment offers help to families towards the cost of school clothing and footwear. It is deemed particularly vital during a time of inflation. The payment for 2025 is €160 for a child who is aged from four to 11, and €285 for those aged from 12 to 22. To qualify children and young adults must be between these ages on or before September 30, 2025. Students aged between 18 and 22 must be returning to full-time second-level education in a recognised school or college in autumn 2025. Last September, the issue was raised by Independent TD Michael Lowry, who asked the then children's minister Roderic O'Gorman if he would ensure foster families were paid the benefit. Mr O'Gorman said at that time Heather Humphreys, whose brief was social protection, had 'informed' him 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.' Mr O'Gorman had at that point said that the rates for the Foster Care Allowance were to rise to €400 a week for a child under 12 and to €425 for those over 12. Families are being reminded the application window to apply for the benefit is now open until September 30. The social welfare payment is a once-off annual means-tested payment. ADVERTISEMENT Applications can be filled out online at My Welfare or families can request a form is sent to them in the post. Those who qualify for the scheme must be receiving a social welfare payment from the Department of Social Protection already, such as carer's allowance or benefit; Supplementary Welfare Allowance, disability allowance; One Parent Family Allowance; Working Family Payment; or jobseeker's allowance or benefit. Others can also qualify, if their household is within the BSCFA income limits, or if they are in an approved employment, education or training support scheme. The weekly income limits to qualify for the scheme for one child are €694. For two children, the income limit is €756. The limit is €818 for three children and €880 for four children.
The Irish Sun
10-06-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
€160 or €285 payment date for 149k Irish parents in weeks confirmed as key group urged to check application NOW
THE date a €160 or €285 payment for Irish parents will land into bank accounts has been confirmed. And those eligible for the payment, which officially Advertisement The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is designed to help parents cover the cost of returning to school. It is expected to be paid out in the week starting on July 7th. Last year, It is expected that a similar number will benefit from the scheme this year. Advertisement READ MORE IN MONEY Many families But those who haven't been notified of the payment on their MyWelfare account or through post by today could miss out on the lump sum. 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. Advertisement MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN Live Blog The payment is €160 for children aged between four and 11 years old. Major warning over emergency social welfare scam texts as thousands could be targeted Parents will receive a €285 payment for children aged between 12 and 22 - but those over 18 must be returning to full-time second level education in the autumn of 2025 in order to be eligible. Minister for Social Protection When asked by Advertisement 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." WHO QUALIFIES? Those who are eligible for BSCFA must be getting a Advertisement Those who don't receive the Child Support Payment must still be getting a qualifying social welfare payment to claim BSCFA. You can still claim if the rules of your payment do not provide for a child payment, such as If this is not the case, you can still claim BSCFA if 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. QUALIFYING PAYMENTS THERE a number of social welfare payments that are treated as a qualifying social welfare payment for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance. Social Insurance Payments Deserted Wife's Benefit Illness Benefit Disablement Benefit Carer's Benefit Health and Safety Benefit Invalidity Pension Injury Benefit State Pension (Contributory) Partial Capacity Benefit Jobseeker's Benefit Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit Widow's/Widower's/Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension Guardian's Payment (Contributory) Maternity Benefit Adoptive Benefit Social Assistance Payments Blind Person's Pension Carer's Allowance Deserted Wife's Allowance Disability Allowance Working Family Payment Farm Assist State Pension (Non-Contributory) One Parent Family Payment Supplementary Welfare Allowance Jobseeker's Allowance Widow's Widower's Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Contributory) Pension Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory) The BSCFA is a means tested, once off, lump sum payment given to those who meet the criteria. Advertisement The weekly income limit for BSCFA is €694 for a family with one child, but this amount increases by €62 for each additional dependent child. All dependent children, including those over 18 in third level education, will be counted when applying the income limit. When assessing income from wages, the DSP looks at income before tax - but PRSI and a standard travel allowance of up to €20 each week is not included. Savings, investments, shares and property - but not your own home - are also assessed as part of the means test. Advertisement 1 The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is a lump sum €160 or €285 payment Credit: Getty Images - Getty
