The Education Authority has a statutory responsibility for the provision of transport assistance to facilitate attendance at a grant-aided school of pupils for whom fees are not paid and who are resident in Northern Ireland. This guide aims to help you navigate the transport application process.
If you have already received confirmation that you are entitled to a Parental Payment, you DO NOT need to reapply for transport assistance.
If you have any queries please contact your local transport office 028 9598 599, our lines are open Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm
A parental payment is a form of transport assistance that we provide if a pupil is entitled to transport assistance but it is not possible or appropriate to provide a seat on a vehicle. It is a contribution towards the cost of alternative arrangements, not a full reimbursement of costs.
We will notify you if we are awarding you an annual or monthly parental allowance. You cannot choose to ‘swap’ another form of transport assistance that you have been awarded and receive a payment instead.
Parental payment does not impact on any other benefits or income that your household receives. The payment is tax free as the payment is made for your child for the purpose of home to school transport assistance.
There are two types of payment – annual or monthly.
Payment rates are as follows:
|
Mileage Band (distance from home to school) |
Annual Payment |
|---|---|
|
Band A: 0-4 miles |
£185.00 |
|
Band B: 4–10 miles |
£465.00 |
|
Band C: 10–15 miles |
£695.00 |
|
Band D: 15+ miles |
£740.00 |
You must submit a claim every year in order to receive payment.
For the 2020/21 school year, claims must be submitted online between 7th December 2020 and 26th February 2021. Claims cannot be made after the 26th February 2021.
If we receive your claim in the first 5 working days of a month it will be paid by the end of the same month. Claims received after this date will be paid by the end of the following month. Payments will begin in January 2021.
If you were awarded an annual payment outside of the normal timeframes e.g. mid-year, or require assistance, contact us on 028 9598 5959 (Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm).
Claims should be submitted each month, for the month prior, based on your child’s actual attendance which is verified by the school. Click here to download a monthly claim form.
Claims must be submitted in hard copy or scanned and emailed to your local Transport office by the end of the following month e.g. February’s claim should be submitted by the end of March. Claims received more than two months late will not be paid.
If we receive your claim in the first 5 working days of a month it will be paid by the end of the same month. Claims received after this date will be paid by the end of the following month.
If you require assistance, contact us on 028 9598 5959 (Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm).
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