Back to school clothing and footwear allowance 2018

upinthesky

Has anyone received the letter yet?

Applications are opened from the 22nd June for anyone who did not receive a letter.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/social_welfare_payments_to_families_and_children/back_to_school_clothing_and_footwear_allowance.html

splinter65

upinthesky wrote: »

Has anyone received the letter yet?

Applications are opened from the 22nd June for anyone who did not receive a letter.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/social_welfare_payments_to_families_and_children/back_to_school_clothing_and_footwear_allowance.html

There isn’t any letter this year. If you think your not going to get it then the application forms will be available at the end of next week otherwise the payment is the second week in July.

Akrasia

Is this automatically paid to families on FIS?

upinthesky

splinter65 wrote: »

There isn’t any letter this year. If you think your not going to get it then the application forms will be available at the end of next week otherwise the payment is the second week in July.

Just rang there and they have confirmed that they are sending out letters this year.

upinthesky

Akrasia wrote: »

Is this automatically paid to families on FIS?

It depends if you got it last year, if its your first year on fis you will need to apply for the payment.

splinter65

upinthesky wrote: »

Just rang there and they have confirmed that they are sending out letters this year.

That’s funny. Someone else in the section told me that they’re not. I suppose you’ll just have to wait and see.

Mikenesson

How is the payment being made?

Is it electronic banking,I can't remember?

splinter65

Mikenesson wrote: »

How is the payment being made?

Is it electronic banking,I can't remember?

You’ll get it whatever way you get your regular payment .

Tinkerbell4484

Today is when the forms become available, has anyone tried texting the number or downloading the forms yet? Neither is available yet?

splinter65

Tinkerbell4484 wrote: »

Today is when the forms become available, has anyone tried texting the number or downloading the forms yet? Neither is available yet?

I’d imagine if other years is to go by , that by “22nd” they mean “25th”.

Curlysue76

Did anyone get a letter yet informing them that they’ll get it?

splinter65

The dept told me that there will be no letters but another poster on this thread was told otherwise.

Tinkerbell4484

Just off the phone to them. Their is a problem with their website and they hope to have it sorted soon.
Re the letters they are sending them out. Some have already been sent out, some are being sent out next week too

Mikenesson

Tinkerbell4484 wrote: »

Just off the phone to them. Their is a problem with their website and they hope to have it sorted soon.
Re the letters they are sending them out. Some have already been sent out, some are being sent out next week too

What do the letters say?

Tinkerbell4484

The letters are only sent out if you get automatic payment, otherwise if you don’t get a letter you need to apply. Or if your not sure phone them

splinter65

The application form is on the welfare website now. 8 pages I’m afraid.

Tinkerbell4484

I can’t find it on it at all? Is it under children & families application forms?

Edit: I see it now

splinter65

Tinkerbell4484 wrote: »

I can’t find it on it at all? Is it under children & families application forms?

Edit: I see it now

Good woman

Mikenesson

splinter65 wrote: »

The application form is on the welfare website now. 8 pages I’m afraid.

Its to deter applicants

splinter65

Mikenesson wrote: »

Its to deter applicants

It’s a bit of a shambles every year. I simply cannot understand why when people are passed as eligible for a core payment, that a box cannot be ticked which triggers the entitlement to the BTSCFA if the person is still claiming in the June. It’s as if every April rolls round and someone says “ oh **** BSCFA!”

hadepsx

Tinkerbell4484 wrote: »

The letters are only sent out if you get automatic payment, otherwise if you don’t get a letter you need to apply. Or if your not sure phone them

I called but they said they couldn't give out my eligibility over the phone as their system wouldn't allow it. What a load of bs.

splinter65

hadepsx wrote: »

I called but they said they couldn't give out my eligibility over the phone as their system wouldn't allow it. What a load of bs.

There is an application form so that your eligibility can be assessed . Honestly, the easiest way to find out if your eligible is to just fill in the form and send it away.

Tinkerbell4484

I actually received our letter this morning even though I was convinced we wouldneed to apply.letter was dated 9/6

ameee

received our letter today but they seem to have miscalculated and have us down for 250 instead of 500, which means that have left one child off altogether. I now have the joyfull task of spending the day on hold.

splinter65

ameee wrote: »

received our letter today but they seem to have miscalculated and have us down for 250 instead of 500, which means that have left one child off altogether. I now have the joyfull task of spending the day on hold.

How old are your 2 children?

Tinkerbell4484

I’m the very same, they have missed 2 of my children I’ve phoned 2 times this morning but was too long on hold each time. I’ll keep trying 🙄

splinter65

Tinkerbell4484 wrote: »

I’m the very same, they have missed 2 of my children I’ve phoned 2 times this morning but was too long on hold each time. I’ll keep trying 🙄

Your probably going to be told to fill up the application. How old are your kids tinker bell?

Tinkerbell4484

14,13,10,7,6

Tinkerbell4484

There is a problem with their system a 2nd letter will issue with the correct amount, they are aware of it and are trying to fix it

ameee

Tinkerbell4484 wrote: »

There is a problem with their system a 2nd letter will issue with the correct amount, they are aware of it and are trying to fix it

Did they tell you that on the phone? I'm all day trying to get through.

ameee

splinter65 wrote: »

How old are your 2 children?

they are 13, 5 and 9 so should be125×2 and 250×1

Tinkerbell4484

Yes on the phone

ameee

Thanks

splinter65

Tinkerbell4484 wrote: »

14,13,10,7,6

I don’t see how they could have made that mistake. It never goes right BTSCFA.

ameee

Just off the phone having been on hold for most of an hour, they confirmed they are having problems with it and had left our thirteen year old off. They said we should get a new letter in the next two to three weeks and hope to have it corrected by the time payments is due but if not call back and we will have priority with getting the payment issued.

The we are hoping to have it sorted by july 13th is not exactly filling me with confidence, they have our childrens details through child benifit and FIS so I cant imagine how they are managing to leave children off.

I was delighted when I seen the letter come in this morning more fool me lol

splinter65

ameee wrote: »

Just off the phone having been on hold for most of an hour, they confirmed they are having problems with it and had left our thirteen year old off. They said we should get a new letter in the next two to three weeks and hope to have it corrected by the time payments is due but if not call back and we will have priority with getting the payment issued.

The we are hoping to have it sorted by july 13th is not exactly filling me with confidence, they have our childrens details through child benifit and FIS so I cant imagine how they are managing to leave children off.

I was delighted when I seen the letter come in this morning more fool me lol

They have problems every single year. I can’t understand it. It should just come automatically with your child benefit in July . It’s just ridiculous.

upinthesky

Got my letter today, no mistakes on it, payment is to issue second monday in July

hadepsx

Eventually got an email back today. Even though we have received this payment the past few years we were not on the automatic payments this year, so straight away sent off the forms via registered post.

splinter65

hadepsx wrote: »

Eventually got an email back today. Even though we have received this payment the past few years we were not on the automatic payments this year, so straight away sent off the forms via registered post.

I would just do this every year while your still eligible. The CWOs used to be responsible for this and ever since it was thrown over on SW it’s like the keystone cops.

Tinkerbell4484

There is a note on welfare.ie reguarding the mistake on letters for some people

jjmcclure

While I see the need for this payment and it is vitally important that every child should go to school in a correct uniform, good shoes etc. I believe this payment should be made in the way of vouchers which can only be redeemed for kids clothing.


Not suggesting that anyone in this forum would use it for anything else.

wifey28

jjmcclure wrote: »

While I see the need for this payment and it is vitally important that every child should go to school in a correct uniform, good shoes etc. I believe this payment should be made in the way of vouchers which can only be redeemed for kids clothing.


Not suggesting that anyone in this forum would use it for anything else.

A big problem with this would be for people like me who have kids in an educate together with no uniform. They need a full new wardrobe come september as they start to outgrow last years clothes in april/may.(birthdays in may and october so we are lucky to get the next size up starting september for school and most years get to almost april before we start to outgrow and then we live in pennys track bottoms and tops till september again and they get 'good' clother for start of school)
Also shoes tend to be a nightmare as everywhere sells black 'school shoes' in august so trying to get shoes that arent 'school shoes' and arent 75euro a pair kills us every year.

So I use this to kit them out for the new school year, but generally shop all over the place so if it was a uniform voucher Id be screwed.

jjmcclure

wifey28 wrote: »

A big problem with this would be for people like me who have kids in an educate together with no uniform. They need a full new wardrobe come september as they start to outgrow last years clothes in april/may.(birthdays in may and october so we are lucky to get the next size up starting september for school and most years get to almost april before we start to outgrow and then we live in pennys track bottoms and tops till september again and they get 'good' clother for start of school)
Also shoes tend to be a nightmare as everywhere sells black 'school shoes' in august so trying to get shoes that arent 'school shoes' and arent 75euro a pair kills us every year.

So I use this to kit them out for the new school year, but generally shop all over the place so if it was a uniform voucher Id be screwed.

My suggestion would be to have the vouchers redeemable at major outlets like Penny, Dunnes, M&S, Debenhams etc as well as small "clothing only stores", like the ones that do the local school uniforms.

wifey28

jjmcclure wrote: »

My suggestion would be to have the vouchers redeemable at major outlets like Penny, Dunnes, M&S, Debenhams etc as well as small "clothing only stores", like the ones that do the local school uniforms.

Again you come into issues with this, i tend to ge the bulk of their pants/jackets/sweatshirts from next uk online store (so i can utilise the 20 off a first 50 spend and get more for my money)

So it would seriously limit where you could shop, i have boys who have no waists but long legs so need to get say jeans in next for the good adjustable waists (dunnes are far too big and pennys break in a matter of weeks when you ned to make them half the size they are lol) andim prob not the only mother out there with the worlds most awkward kids when it comes to how clothes fit etc.



What im trying to say is once you start limiting where people can shop for kids clothes/shoes, you really takeaway the whole point of this payment, Without this atm we couldnt afford to pay for school and clothe the kids properly. And because of this we have to be very savvy on where we get their clothes, to get the best value and to know well get most of the year out of them

ameee

jjmcclure wrote: »

While I see the need for this payment and it is vitally important that every child should go to school in a correct uniform, good shoes etc. I believe this payment should be made in the way of vouchers which can only be redeemed for kids clothing.


Not suggesting that anyone in this forum would use it for anything else.

while I understand what you mean I'm due 500 euro between three children, my eldest books cost 350 the other two are 180 combined and thats before uniforms (eldests will cost 150 as has to be official other two can still get away with aldi stuff) shoes, bags and all the other bits and bond.

So while I'm very grateful for the 500 it's in no way going to cover everything and we certainly won't see any change. The other issue with vouchers is that out schools demand payment for book rental in June so vouchers in July wouldn't be very helpful.

Might be more of an idea to have all the books given out to everyone for free and the schools be made do away with ridiculous specific uniforms at mad prices.

wifey28

were the same, 5 yr old starting primary, were lucky school provide all the books, covered and workbooks. Well we pay for them and they get them for us at a bigger discount. For junior infants the cost this year was 80 euro and that hadto be paid in january tosecure the place, the other ones going into first class and going off last year thatll be about 120 euro give or take.
And that goes up as they get older, so the lower income families who do qualify for this payment in most cases it doesnt even cover or barely covers books adn back to school fees

splinter65

jjmcclure wrote: »

While I see the need for this payment and it is vitally important that every child should go to school in a correct uniform, good shoes etc. I believe this payment should be made in the way of vouchers which can only be redeemed for kids clothing.


Not suggesting that anyone in this forum would use it for anything else.

Queuing to pay for your child’s school uniform in the only school uniform shop in town. It’s your turn to pay for your purchases. Do you mind handing over the vouchers to be scanned?

Mikenesson

I can see a problem with the idea of vouchers redeemable at specific stores

You'd get the shops jacking up the prices the same way contractors jack up the prices when there's grants going

upinthesky

Asda online is great for trousers shirts and polos etc they do different lengths with ajustable waist and plus and slim fits!

https://global.george.com/george/school-uniform/D10,default,sc.html

splinter65

upinthesky wrote: »

Asda online is great for trousers shirts and polos etc they do different lengths with ajustable waist and plus and slim fits!

https://global.george.com/george/school-uniform/D10,default,sc.html

That’s interesting. What’s the quality like?

upinthesky

splinter65 wrote: »

That’s interesting. What’s the quality like?

No problems at all for me, i think there like the dunnes range, i could be wrong..