Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1257. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of supplementary welfare allowance applications that were received in May, June and to date in July 2022 specifically regarding back-to-school costs. [40847/22]
View answerThe 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 each year.
In order to target those families most in need of assistance, the allowance is payable for eligible children between the ages of 4 and 17 in respect of whom a qualified child allowance is being paid and eligible children 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 namely:
- The child must meet the age criteria,
- The applicant must be in receipt of a qualifying payment and getting an increase in that payment for the qualified child (except in certain circumstances) in the period 1 June to 30 September,
- The assessable income for the household must be within prescribed limits,
- The applicant and the child (or children) in respect of whom the allowance is claimed must be resident in the State.
The allowance was automatically awarded to 119,000 families in June 2022. The scheme opened for applications on 20 June 2022 and, by 18 July, 30,000 applications were received online and a further 1,500 application forms issued.
Applications which fall outside the normal rules of the scheme may be considered for an additional needs payment under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme by the Community Welfare Service (CWS). Additional needs payments may be provided for child related costs, including clothing, but are not separately categorised as back to school costs.
Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an additional needs payment is encouraged to contact their local Community Welfare Service. There is a National CWS Contact Centre in place – 0818-607080 – which will direct callers to the appropriate office.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
