5-week wait for back-to-school payout

Cash-strapped families are waiting more than five weeks for back-to-school payments from the Department of Social Protection, which still has nearly 20,000 unprocessed applications.

Claims for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance received up to August 7 were still being dealt with yesterday at Tánaiste Joan Burton’s department.

The payment is worth €100 for primary pupils and €200 for older students, and is only paid to households receiving certain social welfare payments. They must also be earning less than certain income thresholds, for example, no more than €593 a week for a couple with two children or €440 for a lone parent of two.