A guide to the back to school clothing allowance

The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) is a payment to help families with the cost of school uniforms and shoes. Many families get it automatically.

The closing date for applications is September 30, 2026.

Can I get the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA)?

You can get the BSCFA if you have a child that qualifies, and:

You are getting a qualifying social welfare payment, or are participating in an approved employment, education or training support scheme.

Your household is within the BSCFA income limits

You and each child you claim the BSCFA for are resident in Ireland.

If you are getting a social welfare payment, you must be getting a Child Support Payment (previously called an Increase for a Qualified Child or IQC) with your payment. There are some exceptions to this.

What happens if I don’t get a Child Support Payment with my social welfare payment?

If you are getting a qualifying social welfare payment but you don’t get a Child Support Payment, you can still claim BSCFA if the rules of your payment do not provide for a child payment (e.g., Maternity Benefit and Adoptive Benefit), or your spouse or partner’s income is over the specified limit for your payment, but your overall household income is within the BSCFA income limits.

You must meet the other rules for getting BSCFA.

Does my child qualify?

To get the BSCFA, your child must be:

Aged between 2-17 on September 30 in the year you apply

Aged between 18-22 and returning to full-time second-level education in a recognised school in the autumn of the year you apply

Your child must be resident in Ireland.

Income limits for the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance

Your total household income must be less than the amounts set out in the table below.

Weekly income limits for BSCFA in 2026

• 1 child: €726.70
• 2 children: €804.70
• 3 children: €882.70
• 4 children: €960.70*

* The income limit is increased by €78 for each additional dependent child.

When calculating your total household income, the Department looks at all income into the household including wages and weekly social welfare or Health Service Executive (HSE) payments, and capital (such as savings, investments, and any property you have excluding your own home).

When assessing your income from wages, the DSP looks at your income before tax. However, they don’t include PRSI and a standard travel allowance of up to €20 per week.

However, some social welfare payments are not included in the means test. Contact your local Citizens Information Centre (CIC) for more information on what is excluded.

You can also contact them for more detailed information on how capital is assessed for BSCFA.

How much is Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance?

Child’s age on Sept 30, 2-11 = €160.

Child’s age on Sept 30, 12-22 = €285*

* Children aged between 18-22 must be returning to full-time second-level education in a recognised school in the autumn of 2026.

How to apply for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance

You don’t need to apply for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) if you get the payment automatically. The Department of Social Protection (DSP) will let you know if you are paid automatically using your MyWelfare account, or by post.

If you don’t hear from the DSP by the end of June, you must apply for BSCFA online, even if you got the BSCFA payment last year.

If you don’t get the payment automatically, you can apply for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance online at MyWelfare.ie. You will need a verified MyGovID account.

You can also apply using paper form.

Applications for BSCFA will close on September 30, 2026.

Further information on this and other topics is available from Cork City Centre CIC in Cornmarket Street, open to the public on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9.45am to 12.30pmand Wednesdays from 2pm to 4pm, Tel 0818 07 6950 (Lines open Mon-Fri 10am-4.30pm).

Blackpool CIC is also open to the public on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to4pm, Tel 0818 07 6890, while Hollyhill CIC is open Mondays and Fridays from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm, Tel: 0818 07 6850.

Information is also available from the Citizens Information Phone Service Tel: 0818 07 4000 (9am -8pm, Mon - Fri) or online at www.citizensinformation.ie