Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 November 2012
400. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that persons who are in receipt of family income supplement are eligible for the back to school clothing and footwear allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51387/12]
View answerThe back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA) scheme provides a one-off payment to eligible families to assist with the extra costs when their children start school each autumn. The Government has provided €63.7 million for the scheme in 2012.
A person may qualify for payment of BSCFA in respect of a qualified child or children if they are in receipt of a social welfare payment or Health Service Executive payment, or participating in an approved employment scheme or attending a recognised education and training course and have household income at or below certain set levels.
Under the conditions of the BSCFA scheme, income assessed from employment includes earnings before tax, excluding PRSI and travelling expenses of up to €20 a week. Income received under family income support (FIS) is disregarded when determining entitlement to BSCFA.
Automatic payments issued in July 2012 to in excess of 115,000 families in respect of 205,125 children, which included approximately 3,000 families in receipt of family income supplement. In cases where an automatic payment did not issue to customers in receipt of family income supplement, an assessment of earnings from employment was required in order to determine entitlement to BSCFA. In total, approximately 7,000 family income supplement customers received BSCFA payments in 2012 at a cost of €2.5 million.
Any changes to the BSCFA scheme will be considered by Government in the context of the forthcoming Budget.
