All the cost of living and back-to-school changes coming into effect this September
From the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance to the Fuel Allowance, there will be a number of changes that people should know about
September can be an expensive time for families as the new academic year kicks off.
This year, there are several key cost of living changes and to social welfare that you need to be aware of, including tweaks to the student grant and back-to-school payments.
Parents can claim up to €700 in financial aid from the government to help with back-to-school costs, and a new government support scheme will significantly cut the cost of childcare for families. September also sees the return of the Fuel Allowance, a useful social welfare payment that helps people keep their homes cosy during the chillier months.
Here's all you need to know about the cost of living and social welfare changes coming into effect this September.
Back-to-school supports
Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance
The scheme is a one-time payment made to eligible families to help them with the cost of sending their kids back to school, and applications for it will stay open until September 30.
The rate of payment for 2024 is €160 for children aged 4 - 11 and €285 for children aged 12 years and over in second-level education.
If you're already getting the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) automatically, there's no need to apply again. The Department of Social Protection (DSP) will let you know through your MyWelfare account or by post if you're due to receive the payment.
However, if you haven't heard from the DSP by the end of June, you'll need to apply for the BSCFA online, even if you were a recipient last year. Applications for the BSCFA opened on 12 June 2024 and will close on 30 September 2024.
Free schoolbook scheme
The Free Education Scheme is set to provide free schoolbooks to Junior Cycle post-primary students from the upcoming 2024/2025 academic year. With Junior Cycle books costing around €300 on average, this comes as a welcome relief amid the ongoing cost of living crisis.
More than 212,000 students enrolled in approximately 670 post-primary schools are set to benefit from the new scheme. It highlights the Government's commitment to extend the free schoolbooks scheme to schools nationwide, as resources permit, reports RSVP Live.
Child Benefit
Child Benefit will be paid at the start of September, providing a handy €140 per child during the back-to-school season.
College student supports
Student contribution
From September 2024, the income threshold to qualify for the 100% Student Contribution will increase to €55,924.
Student grant
From September 2024 the non-adjacent maintenance rates will increase by €615 per academic year and the adjacent maintenance rates will increase by 10% per academic year.
Childcare
National Childcare Scheme
From September, the National Childcare Scheme hourly subsidy will rise from €1.40 to €2.14. These new subsidy rates will cut the cost of childcare for families using Tusla-registered providers by up to €96.30 weekly per child, or over €5,000 annually.
However, after the closure of another crucial childcare service on Cork's northside late last week, many families may still struggle to find a place.
Social Welfare
Fuel Allowance
The Fuel Allowance is paid from September to April every year. It is paid in either 28 weekly instalments of €33 or two lump sum payments of €462.
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