Btea Query

OHeathcliff

Hello I was wondering if anybody can help me on a few things relating to the back to education allowance. There was a course I wanted to do (VTOS) but it was booked too soon, it was a two year course. Another route to get to the qualification would be to do the Leaving Certificate (which i don't have) over one year available at the same center and the PLC course (in another center closer to home) in one year in the desired field. As this will still work out to be two years will the BTEA cover both of them or is it only one.

Also does anybody know how the travel allowance works? Do I pay out of my own money and get rebursed or does it work some other way?

Thanks for any help.

OHeathcliff

Just seeing if anybody can help?

JaneLane00

Hi,

I'm on VTOS at the moment but i briefely looked into BTEA. As far as I know the BTEA will cover you for the two years, and the travel expenses are a set amount based on how far you have to travel. if you live within three miles, you get nothing unfortunately.

If you need to know more, the colleges you're looking at should have either a VTOS and welfare co-ordinator and/or a guidance councillor, who will have some knowledge on these matters. you may also be entitled to one or more grants depending on where you live. For example, if you live in dublin, you would need to apply to either the city of dublin VEC or else dublin city council, depending on where you live. if your area has a local parnership office, they might also offer grants.

your nearest citizens information centre are amazing for finding out what you're entitled to and how to go about getting into a course.

hope that helped a bit!

OHeathcliff

Hi Jane thanks for the reply, I'm about 15 miles from the center and was told I'd be able to get travel allowance, just wondering how it works.
Regarding the other matter, I think It's be best to talk to some one in the welfare office maybe or the center soon, just wanted to see if anybody here was in the same kind of situation or had any advice first.

JaneLane00

Being honest, I think VTOS is better.

The difference is that BTEA pays you a €500 grant at the start of the college year, and VTOS pay you €35 per week every week for two years including all holidays and summer, and then put a travel and food allowence on top of that. the food allowence is 4€ per week, and you will be entitled to the highest travel allowence, but its still probably about half of what you will spend travelling. Better than nothing though.

Travel allowence is paid every thursday on VTOS (not sure of BTEA, prob the same). I get paid into the bank because i obviously cant make it to a post office on a thurs since im in college, and it just goes into my bank with my one parent family payment. VTOS is 2 years, then you apply to go onto BTEA if you need to.

I think personally a weekly payment is more helpful than 500 at the start which will just get spent on other things.

Oh, and VTOS also pay for your books, but BTEA expect you to pay for them out of the €500.

tomred1

You dont get a travel allownace on BTEA. It only on VTOS were that allowance is paid.YOu moght alk to your local community welfare officer (CWO) to see if he can pay a travel allowance but i think BTEA rate is higher than VTOS payment, so it would be very unlikely.

OHeathcliff

Thanks for the reply's, getting a bit clearer on things now.

If the travel allowance is going to be about half on what I would spend traveling do you know what the actual allowance is?

Thanks again both of you.

OHeathcliff

JaneLane00 wrote: »

and you will be entitled to the highest travel allowence, but its still probably about half of what you will spend travelling.

Thanks for the info, I found these rates online , they are for FAS courses and are just wondering do you or anybody else know if they are the same for VTOS?

Mileage -- Rate* €
3 - 5 -- 4.60
5 - 10 -- 11.90
10 - 20 -- 17.60
20 - 30 -- 21.60
30 - 40-- 27.70
40 - 50 -- 32.60

IT Loser

If my JSA claim is approved, and I decide to go back to school in say 6 months, how should I go about it, and what might I get under the BTEA scheme????

What colleges/universities/courses would I be allowed to attend and still get my BTEA money/payments??

Thanks.:)

cee_jay

You can attend a third-level course of education at any university, third-level college or institution, provided that the course is a full-time day course of study and is approved by the Department of Education and Science for Higher Education Grant purposes, VEC Scholarship Scheme or the Third Level Maintenance Grant Scheme for Trainees or has Higher Education and Training Awards Council recognition.

If you already have an undergraduate third-level qualification, (i.e., you already have a degree) your application for a Back to Education Allowance while pursuing post-graduate education will only be considered if you are doing certain courses.

Info here

IT Loser

cAr0l wrote: »

You can attend a third-level course of education at any university, third-level college or institution, provided that the course is a full-time day course of study and is approved by the Department of Education and Science for Higher Education Grant purposes, VEC Scholarship Scheme or the Third Level Maintenance Grant Scheme for Trainees or has Higher Education and Training Awards Council recognition.

If you already have an undergraduate third-level qualification, (i.e., you already have a degree) your application for a Back to Education Allowance while pursuing post-graduate education will only be considered if you are doing certain courses.

Info here

Thanks a million for that. Cheers.