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Verbal_Kint

I am starting a course on 21 september.

I applied for BTEA about 3 weeks ago. Today I went into the social offices in galway and was told they are not even going to start looking at the BTEA applications until next week.

Now a lot of the time people may be moving address when going to college. In my case everyone is moving out of my house next week so the landlady can move in students for the coming year so now I have to face the ordeal of trying to explain this situation to the social crowd and wait to see how this focks up my weekly payment.

On top of this even though i was one of the first to apply for the grant Galway county council have not yet sent me out a letter to let me know if I got the grant.

Am I supposed to uproot myself to move to college, undergo all the expense associated and then maybe not get the grant or BTEA and so cant afford to go to college because these organisations cant get their act together and let me know in time. How the hell did this system become the norm?!

So my question is, can i expect to hear from social crowd before my course starts? If they are usually late do they stop paying Job seekers allowance during the period they decide to have a look at my application for BTEA? How the hell do they expect people to find a job when they have to be in the social office everyday trying to undo their latest fockup.

DenMan

Hi Verbal Kint

Don't worry ok. I received a call two days ago from the Social Welfare asking me when was I was returning to college (Year 2). Sept 14 is when I start back, so at least they are contacting students. Paying for college accom too so I rang the Sligo County Council today about my grant. It's fine and they are sending me out a letter in the post next week.

You should just ask your County Council about your situation and they will give you loads of info. Regarding the Social Welfare they will get back to you when they can. Hope you get good news soon...and enjoy your time in college/uni.

Verbal_Kint

cheers... Its a postgrad so I've poisoned myself already for 3 years now i have to learn something:)

Verbal_Kint

they want proof that i have been accepted for BTEA for a bank loan. I have already been approved for the grant. Today is the first day they are looking the the BTEA applications in Galway and both times I have gone into the office i have been unlucky to get the same hag who is trying to get me out of the chair before i sit down.

anyone else who is applying for BTEA, when you go into the office can they look on the computer to see if your application has been processed or is there a contact number someone can give me?

charlie_says

I'm in almost the exact same situation mate. Not knowing if I am getting payments before college starts is a horrible situation to be in. I wish they told people earlier. They must know that people are relying on this income to go to college at all????
I'm in a particularly nasty situation which is I have had to take out a loan for the college fees and non tuition fees, based on the fact that I will be able to pay them back using the BTEA. Unfortunately for me my grant has been denied so the BTEA is 80% taken up by my fees, that is if I get it. I have to register very soon and so owe the money to the college.

If I find out I don't get the BTEA (I am eligible but considering what happened with the grant any thing is possible) after I register, then I don't have any income to pay back the fees. Part time work after 32 hours of lectures a week ahoy

Verbal_Kint

are you applying as a dependent? If you qualify for BTEA your income should be under the threshold, no?

I thought that thing about getting either the grant or BTEA wasn't coming in until next year?

charlie_says

Idependant mature student. As I said I don't qualify for the grant as I was in first year before.

One really annoying thing about the social welfare office in galway is that they never answer the phone ever. I went in to ask them about my BTEA the other day, waited 2 hours to receive a curt, "I don't have that information sorry". A phone call could have told me that, but they never answer. Oh well....

Verbal_Kint

There used to be a 14 stone awful blonde woman in there who caused misery to all around her. She was about 50 with a really bad attitude.

Havent seen her in a while so they must listen to complaints down there after all.

There is a new obstacle there now though. Another 50 year old blonde woman who tries to rush you out of the place before god forbid you ask her to check something on her computer.

how long after you applied for BTEA did you hear back. galway social only started looking at them yesterday. They should fly through them though as its only a very basic form.