The ireland social welfare bonus is a one-off Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance that will pay up to €285 for children aged 12 and over; applications open in June 2026 (ET) and payments are usually issued in July 2026 (ET). The payment is intended to help families cover uniforms, shoes and school essentials and does not require the household to be unemployed. The Department of Social Protection says automatic payments will reach many households, with applications remaining open until September 2026 (ET) for those who must apply.
Ireland Social Welfare Bonus: who gets €285 and when
The scheme pays a rate of €285 for children aged 12 and over, while children aged four to 11 receive €160; changes in Budget 2026 also make some children aged two and three eligible. Applications for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance open in June 2026 (ET) and families who are not paid automatically can apply through the Department of Social Protection’s application channels; most automatic payments are issued in July 2026 (ET). Foster carers became eligible to apply for each eligible child in their care following changes introduced in June 2025.
The Department of Social Protection assesses household income for eligibility, counting wages, social welfare payments and certain savings or assets. Child Benefit, Working Family Payment and Housing Assistance Payment are not included in the means test. When work earnings are calculated, they are assessed before tax but PRSI and a standard travel allowance of up to €20 per week are excluded; the first €5, 000 of savings is not assessed and additional amounts are means tested on a sliding scale. The income limit increases by €78 for each additional dependent child.
How to apply and who can qualify
Families often receive the ireland social welfare bonus automatically if they are eligible and receiving qualifying supports; the Department of Social Protection will notify eligible households by MyWelfare or by post. If you do not receive automatic notification by the end of June 2026 (ET), you must submit an application before the end of September 2026 (ET). Applicants who are in work may still qualify if household income falls within the set limits and they are receiving a qualifying social welfare payment or participating in an approved employment, training or education scheme.
In most cases, claimants must be receiving a Child Support Payment (previously called an Increase for a Qualified Child) with their social welfare payment, though exceptions apply in some circumstances. The Department of Social Protection treats a range of income sources when checking eligibility and provides information on which supports are excluded from the means test.
What happens next
Expect automatic payments to land in July 2026 (ET) for many families; the Department of Social Protection will notify households judged eligible through MyWelfare or by post. Applications open in June 2026 (ET) and remain available until September 2026 (ET) for those who do not receive the payment automatically. Officials will continue to assess eligibility based on household income and the changed rules that now include some two- and three-year-olds and allow foster carers to claim for each eligible child in their care.
Parents and carers should check their MyWelfare account and prepare documentation if they need to apply: the payment is designed to reach families burdened by rising costs and to ensure older secondary-level students receive the €285 support when they return to school.
