going on the dole to get to college?

irishvamp90

i was speaking with a person who told me they have signed on the dole(and working for cash) so that they will get welfare then when they go to college?is this the attiude of some young people in this country now

also can someone tell me what does being on the dole do for you come college time..is it more grant money or does it make it easier to get you into a course

AnonoBoy

irishvamp90 wrote: »

i was speaking with a person who told me they have signed on the dole(and working for cash) so that they will get welfare then when they go to college?is this the attiude of some young people in this country now

also can someone tell me what does being on the dole do for you come college time..is it more grant money or does it make it easier to get you into a course

There's a back to education allowance which basically means you continue to get paid your dole while you are in college and they don't expect you to be looking for a job.

I got it for a year when I went back to finish my degree a few years ago. It's a good scheme to get people back into education.

mikemac

The student grant isn't much at all and not all students qualify.
But you get BTEA allowance if you leave jobseekers to attend college and that is far, far more.

This isn't new OP, went on when I was in college too back in the day.
I'm not quite sure was it 6 months on the dole before you qualify, I think I heard 15 months somewhere.

In theory it's a good idea, take people off the dole and encourage them to go to college and keep their benefits.
But yes, there are people playing the system but I'd say that's a minority.

It's a good scheme, don't knock it

AnonoBoy

mikemac wrote: »

The student grant isn't much at all and not all students qualify.
But you get BTEA allowance if you leave jobseekers to attend college and that is far, far more.

This isn't new OP, went on when I was in college too back in the day.
I'm not quite sure was it 6 months on the dole before you qualify, I think I heard 15 months somewhere.

In theory it's a good idea, take people off the dole and encourage them to go to college and keep their benefits.
But yes, there are people playing the system but I'd say that's a minority.

It's a good scheme, don't knock it

Back when I got it you had to be on the dole for 12 months to qualify but as far as I know they've taken the length of time down to 9 months.

But you have to be out of college for at least 2 years and it only applies with undergraduate courses - i.e. you can't use it to do a Masters or PhD.

I believe you can also apply for a local authority grant and also receive the BETA.

themadchef

At least they plan on getting an education.

If there was a fair, encouraging system that rewarded those chosing to get an education then im quite sure there would be more in thrid level education.

Dudess

irishvamp90 wrote: »

i was speaking with a person who told me they have signed on the dole(and working for cash) so that they will get welfare then when they go to college?is this the attiude of some young people in this country now

It's not "the attitude", it's a legitimate system which you can hardly blame people for taking advantage of. And as for "young people" - if you were born in 1990, well it actually applies more to people whom you might consider "old" (compared to you) - mature students (23+) don't have much of an income, as opposed to people just out of school who often have parental help to avail of.

also can someone tell me what does being on the dole do for you come college time..is it more grant money or does it make it easier to get you into a course

More money - obviously having all the money you can get is a good thing when you're a student.

philologos

Isn't it illegal to do that? I thought you had to be actively seeking employment to receive dole payments. Grants are a different thing altogether.

ejmaztec

Weren't there some caught out in some university city a few years ago, drawing dole and not actually owning up to being in university?

D.Q

irishvamp90 wrote: »

i was speaking with a person who told me they have signed on the dole(and working for cash) so that they will get welfare then when they go to college?is this the attiude of some young people in this country now

also can someone tell me what does being on the dole do for you come college time..is it more grant money or does it make it easier to get you into a course

big deal. in fairness, the government will take what they can off us. Only fair that we take what we can off them.

Terry

And the Poles are eating swan burgers on their return flights to collect their dole.
Yes, we've heard it all before.

A very very small minority of people might do this.
Remember that before you start ranting about this.

WindSock

I'd do it, only I can't sit around doing nothing on the dole for that long.

AnonoBoy

ejmaztec wrote: »

Weren't there some caught out in some university city a few years ago, drawing dole and not actually owning up to being in university?

I'm sure there was. It's a stupid thing to attempt to do as the dole run checks against all the third level institutions every few months or so.

This scheme however is not about claiming the dole illegally while in college. It's a perfectly valid and worthwhile scheme which encourages people to get back to education, be it in second or third level.

Dudess

DieselQueen wrote: »

big deal. in fairness, the government will take what they can off us. Only fair that we take what we can off them.

But then we're also taking it off ourselves seeing as we fund the government...

irishvamp90

Terry wrote: »

And the Poles are eating swan burgers on their return flights to collect their dole.
Yes, we've heard it all before.

A very very small minority of people might do this.
Remember that before you start ranting about this.

terry i should be allowed to have an opinion.paying people to go to college sounds like a joke,maybe pay them to do work then if they do that for a year or two then all by means help them with college

xOxSinéadxOx

yeah and if you're on the dole you get the full grant

irishvamp90

a grant yes but maybe a voucher system so the grant cant be used for drinking,holidays,dvds.as in if you get a grant it should be used for books,travel,rent,basic foods

AnonoBoy

irishvamp90 wrote: »

maybe pay them to do work

So what you're proposing is some manner of a....... job???

smemon

a lot of people go to college for the cash with no intention of ever completing their course.

i think you must attend for 'x' number of days in order to receive your grant in some colleges but it's not managed very well...

but yes, young people use college as a way to get more cash (some, not all) - they're milking the system...

irishvamp90

id love a grant for college stuff,and you should be only able to spend it on such stuff.i cant comment on milking the system but is it common?

Tigger

its not only common its advisable

thebouldwhacker

I think some people are mixing up free money with grants & schemes to get people working. The options are to stay on the dole or do something which will allow you to get a job. Anyone who reckons being on the dole to qualify for these grants is a good idea needs pity rather than scorn...

As for the voucher system, the last time that was in the country was ww2, try north korea for a more modern version of it

AnonoBoy

thebouldwhacker wrote: »

try north korea for a more modern version of it

Jaysus them North Koreans have thought of everything, haven't they?

xOxSinéadxOx

irishvamp90 wrote: »

a grant yes but maybe a voucher system so the grant cant be used for drinking,holidays,dvds.as in if you get a grant it should be used for books,travel,rent,basic foods

no I'm pretty sure the full grant is around 6K

Tigger

thebouldwhacker wrote: »

I think some people are mixing up free money with grants & schemes to get people working. The options are to stay on the dole or do something which will allow you to get a job. Anyone who reckons being on the dole to qualify for these grants is a good idea needs pity rather than scorn...

As for the voucher system, the last time that was in the country was ww2, try north korea for a more modern version of it

i needs the pity

also on a different note there was no ww2 in ireland it was the emergency and had no voucher based rationing it was ration books

however i used to get butter and meat vouchers with my dole and that wasnt 60 odd yeasr ago

Tigger

xOxSinéadxOx wrote: »

no I'm pretty sure the full grant is around 6K

you can also get morgage int relief/rent allowance
fule allowance
pet allowance
med card
back top education allowance
if its diobne right you get 20,000 a year

Elessar

While I think it's a good thing, it makes me sick in a way because despite having worked my ass off fulltime for years paying taxes before I decided to go back to college, I get nothing for it to help me financially. There are no jobs and I have resorted to borrowing off family to get me by.

A "friend", on the other hand, who has been on the dole for years (and is well capable of work), applied to do the same course as me, got in and was entitled to the BTEA which is basically his full weekly dole all through college, no questions asked. No financial worries for him. I effectively paid for him to be able to do this while I was working. And I get nothing.

Ugh.

civis_liberalis

AnonoBoy wrote: »

Back when I got it you had to be on the dole for 12 months to qualify but as far as I know they've taken the length of time down to 9 months.

No, currently just under 12 months to qualify for 3rd level BTEA and 9 months to go back and complete secondary education.

AnonoBoy

civis_liberalis wrote: »

No, currently just under 12 months to qualify for 3rd level BTEA and 9 months to go back and complete secondary education.

In the recent 'Happy Happy Joy Joy Budget' the secondary option was reduced to 3 months and the third level option was reduced to 9 months. Not sure when this comes into effect but I presume it'll be for anyone applying for the upcoming school year.

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