Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance
An annual payment towards school uniforms and shoes, paid per eligible child. Most people are paid automatically in July without applying.
- Type
- Means-tested
- Paid
- Every year
- Taxable
- No
- Administered by
- Department of Social Protection
How much is Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance?
€160/year
Child aged 2–11 on 30 September
| Child aged 12–22 on 30 September | €285/year |
|---|
Paid once a year per eligible child. The 2026 scheme was extended to children aged 2 and 3 for the first time.
Who can get Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance
- Your child must be aged 2 to 17 on 30 September, or 18 to 22 and returning to full-time second-level education in the autumn.
- You must be getting a qualifying social welfare payment, or be on an approved training or employment scheme.
- Your household income must be under the limit for your family size.
The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance means test
Means-tested on weekly household income against a limit that rises with the number of children.
| Weekly income limit — 1 child | €726.70 |
|---|---|
| Weekly income limit — 2 children | €804.70 |
| Weekly income limit — 3 children | €882.70 |
| Weekly income limit — 4 children | €960.70 |
How your savings are assessed
Supplementary Welfare Allowance only. The least generous of the three — only the first €5,000 is disregarded.
| Capital | Weekly means assessed |
|---|---|
| First €5,000 | Nil |
| Next €10,000 | €1 per €1,000 |
| Next €25,000 | €2 per €1,000 |
| Balance | €4 per €1,000 |
Capital means your savings, investments, stocks, shares and any property other than your own home. Your own home is never assessed. Capital belonging to a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is included.
Limits rise further for larger families.
Things people get caught by
- Most eligible households are paid automatically in July and never apply. If you were not paid automatically, you must apply before the closing date — it is not backdated indefinitely.
What else you might get
Payments interact. These are the ones that commonly go with Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance.
- Child Benefit
Paid separately and not means-tested.
- Working Family Payment
WFP counts as a qualifying payment for BSCFA.