Joan Collins
Question:131. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will increase the back-to-school allowance to assist families with the cost-of-living. [34873/22]
View answerThursday, 14 July 2022
Questions (131)
Written answers
The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn. The scheme operates from June to September.
The allowance is payable for eligible children between the ages of 4 and 17 in respect of whom a qualified child increase is being paid. It is also payable to those between the ages of 18 and 22 who are in full-time second level education and in respect of whom a qualified child allowance is being paid.
To qualify for the allowance a person must meet a number of conditions, including an income limit test.
The income limits for one parent families were increased this year to bring them in line with the income limits for two parent families, widening the eligibility for that group of customers. The income limits were also increased to ensure that the increases in weekly social protection payments rates introduced in Budget 2022 would not negatively impact on entitlement to the allowance.
The rates of payment were increased this year by €10 to €160 for children aged 4 to 11 and to €285 for children aged 12 years and over in second level education.
On 5 July 2022, it was announced that the BSCFA will be increased by a further €100 for each eligible child under the scheme. Consequently, the amount being paid for each qualified child aged 4–11 years will be €260 and the rate payable for each eligible child aged 12 and over will be €385. This is a one off-measure for 2022 to assist families with back to school costs in the current year.
Applications which fall outside the normal rules of the scheme may be considered for additional needs payments under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme by the officers administering this scheme in the normal way.
The Government is acutely aware of recent price increases and their impact on households who are dependent on social welfare. For this reason, this Government did not await a further budget cycle to address these challenges but acted early. Overall, the tax and spending measures we have introduced to ease the burden and provide support to those most in need have amounted to €2.4 billion.
The Government continues to monitor the situation carefully in preparation for the Budget later this year. I will be meeting a range of NGOs at the Department's pre-budget forum later this month and will listen carefully to the views expressed.
This Government has provided timely, targeted support and I will continue to prioritise evidence-based measures aimed at supporting the most vulnerable in our society.