Back to School Allowance expanded to include two and three-year-olds for first time

Two and three-year-olds are now eligible for the Back to School Allowance under expanded rules. Picture: iStock

The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance will include two and three-year-olds for the first time this year, with €60.5m allocated to the scheme.

More than 109,000 families will automatically receive the payment in July, while applications open on Wednesday.

The once-off payment is €160 for children aged two to 11 on or before September 30, while €285 will be paid in respect of children aged 12 and over who are in second-level education.

For the first time, children aged two and three will be eligible for the scheme. As a result, around 37,000 additional children are expected to qualify this year.

More than 75% of payments will be issued automatically, with no application required, during the week beginning July 13.

The Department of Social Protection is currently processing the payments, and eligible recipients will receive confirmation of their automatic entitlement.

"Families who do not receive notification from the Department of an automated payment should make an application online on www.MyWelfare.ie, even if they received a payment last year," the Department said. 

Social protection minister, Dara Callery, said the "extra investment this year will help even more parents and guardians with the cost of clothing and footwear, while giving children the best possible start as they prepare for the year ahead”.

“More than 75% of payments under this scheme will be paid without the need to make an application. My Department will issue automatic payments to more than 109,000 families in July, and I would urge all families to check their eligibility for this important scheme," he added.