Am I in trouble here?

gaslast

Hi, I started college in 2004 and studied for 2 years before taking a 2 year break to work and travel. In this time I collected a good number of tax credits and signed on for a short period after finishing in one of my jobs over the last 2 years.
I went abroad last summer and when I returned I signed on again for a few weeks just to get me by while I waited to start college again last September, after my 2 year break. Anyway, I signed on for about 3 weeks and then registered for college. The day I registered I called in to my local social welfare office and told them that I was now a student and expected them to cut me off. However, they just renewed by PPS card and told me to collect the following week as usual. I thought this might just be some back pay that I was entitled to at the start but it continued every week.
I looked up the social welfare site and I found out about the Back to Education Allowance (BETA). This states that certain students who are returning to college for progression may be entitle to continue receiving their job seekers benefit payments. I assumed that this is what I was getting and asked no further questions. However, last week for the first time since signing on in September, I actually looked at the little receipt they give you after payment collection, and it read Job seekers benefit at the bottom. So, what am I actually receiving here? Is this actually Back to education allowance or am I mistakenly claiming the Job seekers benefit?

I know the most obvious thing to do in this case is to call in and talk to somebody in the social welfare office. But, I am really worried that I may be in trouble here and have to pay it all back. I just assumed and I was receiving BETA and my college and course meet the criteria required by the soc welfare to receive BETA. Can anybody please advise?

mikemac

You're not entitled to Job seekers benefit.

It's the BETA scheme you are on

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/social-welfare/social-welfare-payments/back-to-education/back_to_education_allowance

To qualify for the Back to Education Allowance, you must be at least 21 years of age (24 years of age for a third-level postgraduate course). If you wish to attend a second level course you must be getting one of the social welfare payments listed below for at least 6 months.

But there is a waiting period of 6 months, I though it was longer. So you need to be on SW for 6 months or longer to qualify

You say you signed on for 3 weeks and let them know you were starting college.
Maybe the periods you mentioned over the last two years mean you qualify, you need to check this with a SW officer. Make a call, you might be asked to identify yourself so don't lie, up to you what you want to do.

But to save worry, I'd check it out. Alternativly ask if you can get a letter to confirm you qualify for BTEA

PCPhoto

best to just ask - the SW wont ask you to cough up the money if they have overpaid you .....they will ask you to pay whatever you can afford, I was on the dole a few years ago and when I got a job - informed them but I still received money from them..... I went to them to stop the payments and they worked out that I owed them €200, and asked if I could afford €6 a week to pay it off.

gaslast

The main reason that I assumed it was the back to education allowance was the fact that I actually told them in person that I was a full time student. I found it hard to imagine that they could have made the mistake of letting me receive job seekers benefit after being told directly that I am a full time student. I was not at any stage actually trying to pose as a non student seeking employment and I do admit to being a bit irresponsible for not realizing sooner that I am actually receiving the dole.

I have read the terms of the BTEA and I do actually qualify for this and meet the age requirement also. I just got a bit freaked out when I saw that it was actually the dole that I am on and do not want to walk in to any trouble. However, I have become dependent on this weekly payment and if I was to be cut off now I would find it very difficult to manage financially. It can take quite a while to find a suitable part time job and the I would be pretty screwed if they cut me off tomorrow.

If I am actually not entitled to any payments I would lilke to know about it asap so that I can go and look for a job but at the same time I do not want to go and talk myself in to any problems with the social welfare. I am sure that I could just keep collecting these payments over the next few months but I do not feel good about not knowing whether or not I am a legitimate candidate. Essentially I am looking for a way of finding out if I am entitled without actually having to go and ask the social welfare in person. Perhaps requesting a confirmation letter of BTEA would be the best way to go. I could say that it is for my college with regards to some student assistance fund application or something. I'll just have to see what happens.

If they do challenge me over claiming the dole I think I will have a good enough argument as I genuinely didn't know and and I did after all inform them when I became a student again. Does anybody know the method of payment for BTEA by the way? Is it paid weekly through the post office similar to the job seekers benefit?

popebenny16

your best option is to go and tell them. the longer you leave it, the more trouble will ensue.

besides, now you know the situation so you have to tell them!!!

gaslast

PCPhoto wrote: »

best to just ask - the SW wont ask you to cough up the money if they have overpaid you .....they will ask you to pay whatever you can afford, I was on the dole a few years ago and when I got a job - informed them but I still received money from them..... I went to them to stop the payments and they worked out that I owed them €200, and asked if I could afford €6 a week to pay it off.

How long were you being over paid? I have been receiving this payment now since September so I now may be overpaid by 16 weeks which is roughly €3000. I have no other source of income available to be and I am not dependent on my parents at all. Having to repay this would take me forever. I just read the BTEA section on studentfinance.ie and I am almost certain that I meet all the requirements for this scheme. The only one that I am doubtful about is the minimum 6 months requirement that you are supposed to be receiving the dole, before getting BTEA. I did however sign on in the past for a couple of months so maybe this counts.
My only assumption is that the soc wel officer that I spoke to the day I registered for college may have being incompetent and instead of giving me a BTEA application, kept me on the job seekers benefit list. However, when I registered for college I gave them my PPS no. I assume that this is stop 3rd level students from claiming the dole and so that they can be accounted for as students. Seeing as I am a registered student, would the social welfare not have identified me as a student by now any thus cut me off? I assume that investigating claims is a big part of their work.
Anyway, I will call in next week and explain my situation. I just hope that they it will work out.

me-o-mi

Hi, Just wondering did you sort out your matter? To me it sounds like you are definitely on the dole and that they forgot to take you off it. Did you talk to them? Are you now having to pay it all back in instalments? If you still haven't spoken to them, I would advise you to get off it asap. A guy I know was on the dole while in college is now having to pay it all back. He just got a letter in the post one day saying this. I can understand the financial strain it will cause you but better for you in the long term. Best of luck.

dlambirl

+1

How did things turn out OP??

LimerickGK

I hope someone here can help with my question. So for the last four years I went to university straight from secondary school. I finished there in May and due to not being able to get work I had to seek job seekers benefit. I have now been offered a research postgrad position and I'll be a UCC student. Although the academic year and registartion for UCC starts at the end of September start of October, I have been asked to start the research in a weeks time which is start of August. Am I entitled to still claim until I get registered or because I have started the research should I come off it? I am also getting a scholarship for the postgrad but not sure when the installments come through? please help I dont want to be done for fraud.

charlemont

Ye will all get life, Ye...., :cool:

eastbono

LimerickGK wrote: »

I hope someone here can help with my question. So for the last four years I went to university straight from secondary school. I finished there in May and due to not being able to get work I had to seek job seekers benefit. I have now been offered a research postgrad position and I'll be a UCC student. Although the academic year and registartion for UCC starts at the end of September start of October, I have been asked to start the research in a weeks time which is start of August. Am I entitled to still claim until I get registered or because I have started the research should I come off it? I am also getting a scholarship for the postgrad but not sure when the installments come through? please help I dont want to be done for fraud.

You should come off jobseekers...you are not available for work and therefore do not qualify. Is it a masters, phd or post doc that you are doing. I do know if its a phd your get your stipend paid once a month into your bank account.