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Social Welfare Payments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 June 2022

Thursday, 2 June 2022

Ceisteanna (298)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

298. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has plans to further increase the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance this autumn in view of the inflationary difficulties facing families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28785/22]

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Freagraí scríofa

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 each year.

The allowance is payable in respect of 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. 

Following a review of the scheme 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 cohort of customers.  The income limits were also increased to ensure that the increases in weekly social protection payments rates introduced in Budget 2022 will not negatively impact on an individual’s 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.

Any further increases to the scheme would have to be considered in a budgetary context.

Applications which fall outside the normal rules of the scheme may be considered for exceptional needs payments under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme by the officers administering this scheme in the normal way.  

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Question No. 299 answered with Question No. 295.
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