Housing Minister and Limerick Labour Party TD Jan O’Sullivan has confirmed there will be no reduction in this year’s Back to School clothing and footwear allowance.
Stating that the payment will help many Limerick families with the costs involved in children returning to school, Minister O’Sullivan said she had been informed by Social Protection Minister Joan Burton that the 2013 allowance would be maintained at a similar rate to last year.
“A large proportion of the allowance entitlements will be fully automated with no application form required. Letters will be issued to the people concerned over the next week, informing them of their entitlement and notifying them that payment will be issued in the week commencing July 15 with their normal social welfare weekly payment.
“This is a very useful payment for lessening the impact of the cost of sending children back to school in many households. I would urge new applicants, and those who do not receive a letter to apply as soon as possible”, she said.
To qualify for the allowance, the person must be in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment and they must satisfy a means test. The rates of payment are €100 for children between the age of 4 and 11 years of age and €200 for children between 12 and 22 years of age.
