Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance
An annual payment towards school uniforms and shoes, paid per eligible child. Most people are paid automatically in July without applying.
- Type
- Means-tested
- Paid
- Every year
- Taxable
- No
- Administered by
- Department of Social Protection
How much is Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance?
€160/year
Child aged 2–11 on 30 September
| Child aged 12–22 on 30 September | €285/year |
|---|
Paid once a year per eligible child. The 2026 scheme was extended to children aged 2 and 3 for the first time.
Who can get Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance
- Your child must be aged 2 to 17 on 30 September, or 18 to 22 and returning to full-time second-level education in the autumn.
- You must be getting a qualifying social welfare payment, or be on an approved training or employment scheme.
- Your household income must be under the limit for your family size.
The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance means test
Means-tested on weekly household income against a limit that rises with the number of children.
| Weekly income limit: 1 child | €726.70 |
|---|---|
| Weekly income limit: 2 children | €804.70 |
| Weekly income limit: 3 children | €882.70 |
| Weekly income limit: 4 children | €960.70 |
How your savings are assessed
Supplementary Welfare Allowance only. The least generous of the three: only the first €5,000 is disregarded.
| Capital | Weekly means assessed |
|---|---|
| First €5,000 | Nil |
| Next €10,000 | €1 per €1,000 |
| Next €25,000 | €2 per €1,000 |
| Balance | €4 per €1,000 |
Capital means your savings, investments, stocks, shares and any property other than your own home. Your own home is never assessed. Capital belonging to a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is included.
Limits rise further for larger families.
Things people get caught by
- Most eligible households are paid automatically in July and never apply. If you were not paid automatically, you must apply before the closing date. It is not backdated indefinitely.
What else you might get
Payments interact. These are the ones that commonly go with Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance.
- Child Benefit
Paid separately and not means-tested.
- Working Family Payment
WFP counts as a qualifying payment for BSCFA.