Posted by Schooldays Newshound, on 03/06/2016. Tags: Parenting
New Minister for Social Protection, Leo Varadkar, is urging families to get their back to school Allowance applications in early this year ahead of the August deadline.
Last year, over 153,000 families accounting for over 281,000 children availed of the scheme.
The scheme is worth €100 per child in Primary school and €200 per secondary school child. The government allocates €39 million a year for the scheme in a bid to ease the cost of back to school for couples and single parents.
Minister Vardkar stated;
"The support provided through the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance helps parents with the cost of the new school year.
The Department of Social Protection has allocated €38.8 million for the payments this year. I want to remind families who do not automatically receive the allowance that they can still make an application before the August deadline."
The scheme invokes strict income limits for those who wish to apply, illustrated on the table below;
Couple
1 child
2 children
3 children
4 children
Income Limit
€563.60
€593.40
€623.20
€653.00*
Lone Parent
1 child
2 children
3 children
4 children
Income Limit
€410.10
€439.90
€468.70
€499.50*
*Limit is increased by €29.80 for each additional child
Those who have availed the scheme in previous years should already be in the system and will not need to apply again. These customers will simply receive a letter from the Department of Social Protection in week ending 10th June telling them when and how their payment will be made - it is expected that automatic payments will issue in the week ending Friday 15th July 2016 and are to be collected on the same day as the customer's weekly payment. If you don't receive your letter, make sure to get in touch with the Department of Social Protection.
Further information is available on
welfare.ie
Comments
Michelle guinan
(08-06-2016 16:27)
Could I get an application form
laura
(31-07-2016 19:52)
Hi its been atleast 5 weeks ago since i filled up my back to school allowance form havent got payment yet or no letter about it could u please email me and let me know thanks.
Collette Reynolds
(07-06-2016 14:41)
Can i request an application by text? Have done this before but when i tried today the reply said it was not possible..
Edwina miley
(08-06-2016 13:30)
How do I go about to get back to school allowance. Thanks