I have received an update from the Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, on the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA), see below.

Anyone who is entitled to the BSCFA should familiarise themselves with new information.

If any constituents have a problem please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Seán Crowe TD

Sinn Féin
Dublin South West

“The BSCFA entitlements of some 115,000 families in respect of approx. 207,000 children have now been established with reference to their primary scheme entitlement, with no application form required.  Letters issued to the people concerned informing them of their entitlement.  These customers can collect their BSCFA payment this week (week commencing 16 July) on the same day as their normal weekly payment.

“Customers who did not receive an automated payment are now required to complete an application form which will be processed from a centralised unit in the Department’s office in Letterkenny.  The Allowance is means tested so customers who are in receipt of benefit payments, on Community Employment or Back to Work schemes will be required to complete an application form.  Some 25,500 additional applications have been received for processing and an acknowledgement has issued by text to the 23,900 (93%) who requested one.  Claims which were received in June have been processed and will also be paid this week bringing the total number of customers who will receive their allowance this week to 123,500.

“The BSCFA section is processing claims which were received in July at present.  Payment in respect of these claims will issue on a daily basis as they are decided so the majority of customers who have an entitlement to the allowance will receive their payment in July.

“Forms are available from Local Offices, via SMS (text “Form BTSCFA” followed by your name and address to 51909) and on www.welfare.ie.  A phone bank is operational to deal with queries on the scheme. The LOCALL number is 1890662244.

“I will continue to provide you with regular updates in relation to claim processing in order that you can provide an update to your constituents, but it would speed the process if you would refrain from making enquiries on individual cases.  Information in relation to the scheme is also regularly updated on the Departments website.”