The social welfare bonus is a once-off Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance payment worth up to €285 for children aged 12 and over, with applications opening in June 2026 (ET) and payments usually issued in July 2026 (ET). The payment is available even to working families if household income falls within set limits and claimants meet qualifying rules. Families are urged to check notifications from the Department of Social Protection and apply if they do not receive automatic payment by the end of June 2026 (ET).
Social Welfare Bonus: Who qualifies and when it pays
The Social Welfare Bonus takes the form of the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA). For 2026 the scheme sets a rate of €160 for children aged four to 11, with some children aged two and three newly eligible following Budget 2026 changes, and a top rate of €285 for children aged 12 and over in second-level education. Applications open in June 2026 (ET) and the Department of Social Protection normally issues automatic payments in July 2026 (ET); applications remain open until the end of September 2026 (ET) for those not paid automatically.
How the scheme works and key eligibility rules
The BSCFA is means-tested. The Department of Social Protection assesses all income, including wages and most social welfare payments, while excluding Child Benefit, Working Family Payment and Housing Assistance Payment from the means test. Earnings from work are assessed before tax; PRSI and a standard travel allowance of up to €20 per week are excluded from the income calculation. Savings are taken into account but the first €5, 000 of savings is not assessed. The income limit increases by €78 for each additional dependent child. Foster carers can apply for each eligible foster child following changes introduced in June 2025.
Practical steps: apply, check MyWelfare, or call for help
Many families receive the social welfare bonus automatically and will be notified by the Department of Social Protection through MyWelfare or by post. If you do not hear from the Department by the end of June 2026 (ET), you must apply online; applications for the scheme generally close at the end of September 2026 (ET). Contact options and support are available for applicants who need help setting up a verified MyGovID account or who require a paper form.
Officials note that last year more than 114, 000 families received the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance. Parents and carers should check household income against the scheme rules, confirm receipt of any automatic payment, and submit an application before the September 2026 (ET) deadline if no automatic award arrives. The social welfare bonus will be a key summer payment for households with school-age children as notifications and payments roll out in June–July 2026 (ET).
