The Department of Social Protection Ireland will pay out the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant this summer – here’s everything you need to know about eligibility and how to make a claim
Euro money in a stock image(Image: Getty Images)
Two significant social welfare payments are set to arrive this summer, and eligible recipients are being encouraged to submit their applications without delay.
Amid the continuing cost of living crisis, it’s essential to claim every payment you’re entitled to. The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant are both due to be paid over the coming months – here’s everything you need to know.
Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance
The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) is a payment designed to assist families with the expense of school uniforms and footwear.
You may be eligible for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) if you have a qualifying child, and you are receiving a qualifying social welfare payment, or are participating in an approved employment, education or training support scheme, your household falls within the BSCFA income limits, and both you and each child you are claiming the BSCFA for are resident in Ireland.
If you are in receipt of a social welfare payment, you must also be receiving a Child Support Payment (previously known as an Increase for a Qualified Child or IQC) alongside it. There are certain exceptions to this rule, reports Dublin Live.
To qualify for the BSCFA, your child must be aged between 2-17 on 30 September in the year you apply, or 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 also be resident in Ireland. From June 2025, if you are in receipt of the Foster Care Allowance, you can now apply for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance for each foster child in your care. To be eligible for the payment, you must meet the conditions of the scheme. Previously, foster carers were excluded from making applications on behalf of the foster children in their care.
A rate of €160 is paid in respect of children aged 2-11, while a rate of €285 is paid in respect of children aged 12-22. For full details of the scheme, click here.
Carer’s Support Grant
The Department of Social Protection (DSP) pays the Carer’s Support Grant to carers on an annual basis. It was formerly known as the Respite Care Grant.
The grant may be used however you see fit. While it can be put towards respite care costs, this is not a requirement. Only one Carer’s Support Grant can be paid per person receiving care.
It is automatically awarded to those in receipt of Carer’s Allowance (both full rate and half-rate), Carer’s Benefit and Domiciliary Care Allowance. Further recipients are set to benefit from the payment as one of the automatic schemes will amend its criteria this year.
In July 2026, the weekly income disregard for Carer’s Allowance will be increased by €375 to €1,000 for a single person, and by €750 to €2,000 for a couple.
This means more people will be able to claim Carer’s Allowance, and consequently the Carer’s Support Grant, going forward. The grant is typically distributed on the first Thursday of June, which means in 2026 recipients can anticipate receiving payment on the 4th of June. Applications are currently open for those who don’t receive it automatically. The rate of payment is €2,000.
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