Joan Burton, TD, Minister for Social Protection today 21st June, 2012 said that approximately 170,000 families with 380,000 children will benefit from the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) in 2012.

“The administrative arrangements for the 2012 Scheme will be fully automated with no application form required from most customers. Some 115,350 customers received a letter from the Department of Social Protection earlier this week telling them when and how their payment will be made.” said the Minister.

Customers who have not received notification of an automated payment will be required to complete an application form which is available from Local Offices, via SMS (text “Form BTSCFA” followed by your name and address to 51909) and on www.welfare.ie.

A text message acknowledging receipt will issue this year to each customer who submits a manual claim so it is important that customers provide a mobile phone number as requested on the claim form.

This Scheme, which is administered by the Department of Social Protection, assists eligible categories of people help meet the cost of school clothing and footwear.　 The Allowance is paid in respect of eligible children between the ages of 4 and 17 years of age and between the ages of 18 and 22, if in full time education.

The payment rates for the 2012 Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme are €150 in respect of children aged 4 to 11 on 30th September 2012 and €250 for children aged 12 to 22 on 30th September 2012.

Minister Burton continued: “€63.7 million has been made available by Government this year for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme.　 This level of support, shows the Government’s continued commitment to assisting families who are under pressure financially; in particular recognising that the start of a school year can be a very pressurised time on household budgets.”　

These applications will then be processed from one centralised unit within the Department of Social Protection.　 A phone bank is operational to deal with queries on the scheme. The LOCALL number is 1890662244.

It is expected that in excess of 70% of customers entitled to the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance in 2012 will automatically receive the Allowance, with payments to these customers issuing from the 16th July 2012.

Notes:

Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance 2012 Income Limits for 2012 are:

Couple

1 child €563.60　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

2 children €593.40　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

3 children €623.20　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

4 children €653.00*　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

*Limit is increased by €29.80 for each additional child 　

Lone Parent

1 child €410.10

2 children €439.90

3 children　€469.70

4 children　€499.50*

*Limit is increased by €29.80 for each additional child 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Rates of Payment

The rates of payment are:

(a) €150 in respect of children aged 4 to 11 on the 30th September 2012;

(b) €250 in respect of children aged 12 to 22 on the 30th September 2012.