Back to education

D. Murphy

Hey there,

I have a few questions about the back to education allowance I could use some help with. I would love to visit the social here but there always packed and I have no idea who to ask.

First off, i'm currently receiving JSA from the social and have bills to repay so I don't think I would be able to go to college without any sort of payment, I currently live with my mother who is paying a mortgage who works but earns little enough for me to qualify for full JSA and my sister who is also starting college this year. jobs are far and few between I have been trying to get a job though for the past year! Slim pickings my friends!

Heres my story, I'm not 21, im 20 so I don't know if that's a huge red cross already but I read there are "excuses" to the 21 age rule. One is that if you are out of education for 2 years you qualify, Well I have and I haven't, basically I did my leaving cert in 2008 but did not attend sixth year, so I do have my Leaving Cert but I do not know if this is qualified as a year in education. The leaving cert was sat in a local school though.

The college I'm attending will be a College of Further Education, not a Uni or an IT, does this matter?

As for the maintenance grant, I should avail of the full amount but this will go towards a laptop for the course, I'm doing music so this is pretty much necessary, and other materials. So that's not going to last me.

I was thinking about going for a student loan but google has done nothing to help with that department, how do student loans work. I have had a few friends tell me that the banks give me money now and I don't have to pay them back until I finish college and have a job. I don't know whether to believe this or not as none of them have had taken out a loan themselves so is this true? If so which bank offers the best rates? I'm assuming the interest is massive on these types of loans, but if it gets me through college without having to beg on the streets ill take it!

I think that's it and would love any input no matter how little!

Thanks guys!

snubbleste

Should be in this forum http://boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=1101

Check if your College of Further Education is recognised to be eligible for maintenance grant and or btea first at www.studentfinance.ie

Other than that, go down to the enquiries desk at your local SWO and wait and ask about your eligiblity for btea, emphasise that college is a step in the right direction for you.

billy the squid

Which social welfare office are you is your local one. In my experience there should be a separate hatch for "schemes" go directly to this hatch and cut through the crowds altogether.

How were you able to sit the Leaving Certificate without completing sixth year? Can you prove that you left the formal education system in 2007? If you can satisfy the social that you were out of the education system then you should qualify if you were on JSB or JSA for nine months or more. best thing to do is go to the Social welfare office and speak to them.

With regard to the grant, you may not get the full grant if you are living with your parents, unless the college you are attending is a certain distance from your home. you will need to speak to your local VEC in relation to this grant.

The BTEA is a standard payment, and is not means tested, therefore your mother's income would not affect it's level were you to qualify for it.

Information on back to education allowance can be found here:
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/social-welfare/social-welfare-payments/back-to-education/back_to_education_allowance

Information on third level grants can be found here
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/education/third-level-education/fees-and-supports-for-third-level-education/maintenance_grant_schemes_for_students_on_third_level_courses