PARENTS ARE BEING urged to apply for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear allowance, as the Department of Social Protection launches a campaign to coincide with an increase to the payment.

The means-tested payment is available to help families with the cost of children returning to school, and has increased by 25% this year.

For children aged 4-11, the allowance has increased from €100 to €125. The payment has also increased from €200 to €250 for children aged 12 and 22 (between the ages of 18 and 22, the payment can be received if in full-time education).

Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty said: “The cost associated with children both starting and returning to school can put a lot of financial pressure on families throughout the country.

This year, the government is providing €47.4 million for the [...] scheme, an increase of €10 million on the original allocation.

As the payment is means tested, there is a limit to how much you can earn before you become ineligible for the payment, and this is detailed below.

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The allowance will be paid to automatically to around 108,000 people already in receipt of the payment, and new applicants are urged to downloaded forms from the department’s website here.

The closing date for applications is 30 September.

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