Applications for the 2026 Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, which supported more than 144,000 families last year, have now opened.
The scheme offers a one-off payment to qualifying families to assist with the cost of school uniforms and footwear, reports The Mirror.
The programme has been expanded this year to include children aged 2 and 3 for the first time, with approximately 37,000 additional children expected to become eligible as a result.
The payment rate for 2026 stands at €160 for children aged 2 to 11 and €285 for those aged 12 and above attending second-level education, reports The Mirror.
The Department of Social Protection is currently processing payments, with customers receiving confirmation of their automatic entitlement via their MyWelfare account or by post. More than €42 million is set to be distributed to eligible families during the week beginning 13 July.
Families who do not receive notification from the department regarding an automated payment should submit an application online at MyWelfare.ie, even if they received a payment last year. Online applications opened on Wednesday, 3 June, reports The Mirror.
Families may qualify for the allowance if they have a child between the ages of 2 and 17, or between 18 and 22 in secondary education, are in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment or approved training or employment scheme, are receiving a Child Support Payment in most cases, and satisfy a means test.
In 2025, more than 144,000 families received support from the scheme in respect of over 256,000 children, at a total expenditure of €55.4 million, reports The Mirror.
Students aged between 18 and 22 must be returning to full-time second-level education at a recognised school or college in autumn 2026 to retain their entitlement to the payment.
Applications for the 2026 scheme will remain open until 30 September 2026, reports The Mirror.
Speaking about the scheme, Minister Calleary said: “I know that the costs for going back to school or preschool can place real pressure on families.
“That is why I am particularly pleased that, with the support of my colleague Minister Norma Foley, we are extending the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance to include 2 and 3-year-olds for the first time. This means thousands more families across the country will receive practical support at a time when it matters most,” reports The Mirror.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.
