McGrath advises eligible Cork families to apply now for Back to School Allowance

Cork South Central TD Michael McGrath is advising families in Cork to check out their eligibility for funding assistance under the Government’s Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance and to submit their applications as soon as possible.

Some €82million in funding has been made available for the allowance this year and a new mobile text service is making it easier for potential recipients to obtain an application form to apply for the allowance, according to Deputy McGrath. Application forms are available through the Department’s mobile text service. For an application form, simply text - FORM BTSCFA - to 51909 followed by your name and address. Alternatively, applications forms can also be sourced online at www.welfare.ie or from local HSE offices.

Deputy McGrath is advising families who know they are eligible to get their applications in early.

“The Minister for Social Protection, Eamon Ó Cuív TD, has confirmed that some 160,000 families will benefit from this scheme in 2010 and I would urge all families in Cork, who meet the eligibility criteria, to apply right away. Payments range from €200 to €305 per child, depending on the age of the children.

“Given the volume of applications submitted, there significant delays in administering the scheme last year. Demand is likely to be high again this year so families would be well advised to apply early to ensure they will have the allowance before the children return to school,” added Deputy McGrath.

A person may qualify for payment of the allowance if they are in receipt of a Social Welfare payment (including Family Income Supplement), or a Health Service Executive payment, are participating in an approved employment scheme or attending a recognised education and training course and have household income at or below certain set levels. The weekly income limit for the allowance for parents with one child is now €563.60 for couples and €410.10 for those parenting alone.

The scheme is administered by the Community Welfare Division of the Health Service Executive on behalf of the Department of Social Protection. Application forms are now available in Health Service Executive Offices and online at: http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Forms/Documents/bscfa.pdf or at http://communitywelfareservice.ie/cws_public/application-forms