BTEA-GALWAY

Clueless09

Hi-anyone get approved for BTEA in Galway yet? Havent heard a thing about mine and when i went in last week to enquire yer one just told me to go home and wait for a letter.

chriz

Im waiting to see if i got the BTEA for the second year of my course. I havent heard of anything yet and college starts the 14th . Im half tempted to go in but i dont think that would do any good lol

Tzetze

I went in last Friday to enquire about BTEA as a 2nd year, and was told they would be starting to send out letters from Monday of this week. So, should be expecting the letter any day now. I had a sign-on day Tuesday of this week and was told that I didn't have to worry about a period of non-payment as I was already signed up for another 4 weeks. I guess they're waiving the fact that I'll be unavailable for work from Monday onwards.

It was a similar story last year when I was initially applying. I didn't receive confirmation of BTEA until 7-10 days after I'd started the semester.

Clueless09

oh right so hopefully we might hear something next week so, thanks. im to sign on Monday so I guess I will just sign as normal even though im going to college on Tuesday.

magicface

Ya this is a bit of a joke alright im starting college in Dublin on Monday and have moved up to Dublin last Tuesday and don't know if I will get the BTEA as I havent heard anything! Bit stressed out about it if going back to college isnt stressful enough added pressure of worrying if I will actually get the allowance! worried and hopeful


magicface..

Clueless09

ya magicface its stressful not knowing. Im starting on Tuesday and put my form in to the social in July, havent heard a thing. Hopefully it will be sorted this week. How are you gonna collect your money if your up in Dublin and its going to the post office down here? you gonna come down on saturday to collect your jsb until btea is sorted out?

Clueless09

anyone hear anything yet? :pac:

Tzetze

Still no letter here...

WiseMona

I got a phone call last Friday saying my application had been received and I would be getting a letter this week stating whether or not I will be receiving the BTEA. Nothing in the post today

Clueless09

nothing today either

chriz

Just had a talk in person with the people at the SW about 10 mins ago. They said that their has been an overwhelming amount of applications compared to last year and that they haven't even started to process the applications yet. I was also told that you will receive any SW payment that your getting until you application has been processed. God knows when they will be done :eek:

Clueless09

fair play to ya-did you go in to the office or did they actually answer the phone?

chriz

Clueless09 wrote: »

fair play to ya-did you go in to the office or did they actually answer the phone?

Ringing them is useless imagine the wait:eek: i went in and asked about whats going on i had to go upstairs and talk to someone about it. Atleast ya know something about it now i guess your going to have to sit back "try and relax" and wait for that phone call or letter :cool:

WiseMona

Yup - same here. Phoned again today. Was reassured they were working on it, but overwhelmed. Said it could be October at the earliest before they send out the letters stating whether or not I get it!:eek:

chriz

How many applications do you think there is :pac:. Id say they would prefer to get alot people off the live register everyone will get it

charlie_says

Don't waste your money on the phone, it is next to impossible even to get through to someone who directs the calls. Then they usually put you through to a phone that rings until it disconnects, don't have voicemail.

Nice...

Clueless09

i have received nothing yet... My friend got word today. he was refused it on the basis that he is going into 2nd year and not 1st. he done an evening course that got him exemptions from 1st year. So basically they would give it to him if he was going into 1st year and he would cost the state even more, but not when he is going into 2nd. i am crapping it now-i am in 2nd year too-was exempt from 1st myself. does anyone know will the college refund the registration fee if i get refused and leave shortly?

Tzetze

Got my letter today. BTEA granted for another year. Now in second year, received BTEA last year.

Clueless09, I don't know the answer to your question, but I'm sure someone in Admissions/Registrar's office of your college will know. Good luck!

sillybird

Tzetze,

Did you have to go throught the process of sending in a new application for your 2nd year?

WiseMona

sillybird wrote: »

Tzetze,

Did you have to go throught the process of sending in a new application for your 2nd year?

Gawd, say it ain't so..........................I thought for sure if you got it for first year (Fingers crossed) you did not have to re-apply???:(

Tzetze

sillybird wrote: »

Tzetze,

Did you have to go throught the process of sending in a new application for your 2nd year?

Sometime around the end of 1st year, I got a form in the post to fill out. It basically asked if I intended resuming college for another year, and when that year would begin. I submitted that before the summer break.

I didn't submit anything else, and got an 'acceptance' letter today. It's basically the same acceptance that I received at the start of 1st year, telling me to provide evidence of registration from the admissions office before BTEA payments start.

sillybird

Oh I see you just need to prove that you are still attending college. Thanks for that...saved me a heart attack!!!

magicface

this is complete joke people in my course that have applied for BTEA 2 weeks ago and got accepted yesterday and today. I find Galway a complete joke.

chriz

magicface wrote: »

this is complete joke people in my course that have applied for BTEA 2 weeks ago and got accepted yesterday and today. I find Galway a complete joke.

You cant be serious, i have to wait till i get a letter of registration before they process mine fully.:rolleyes:

Jeanious

chriz wrote: »

You cant be serious, i have to wait till i get a letter of registration before they process mine fully.:rolleyes:

+1 pain in the hole!

Just to those who are goin into 2nd year and got the BTEA in 1st year, did i hear right that ya can't work over the summers? Also do ya have to sign on (really thinkin about a J1 or somethin here, and would it be possible to do that)

Tzetze

coyle wrote: »

+1 pain in the hole!

Just to those who are goin into 2nd year and got the BTEA in 1st year, did i hear right that ya can't work over the summers? Also do ya have to sign on (really thinkin about a J1 or somethin here, and would it be possible to do that)

You heard wrong. You can work, you can do your J1.

pandamoanium

Got a letter yesterday stating that I was successful in my application for B.T.E.A - so relieved!!

I handed in my app around the first week of August.

Didn't send in a letter of registration either, was going to hand in one yesterday but it looks like I don't need to now!

G'luck to the rest of you, let us know how you get on.

Btw, was my first time applying for BTEA, going into 1st year

magicface

pandamoanium wrote: »

Got a letter yesterday stating that I was successful in my application for B.T.E.A - so relieved!!

I handed in my app around the first week of August.

Didn't send in a letter of registration either, was going to hand in one yesterday but it looks like I don't need to now!

G'luck to the rest of you, let us know how you get on.

Btw, was my first time applying for BTEA, going into 1st year

pandamoanium delighted for ya as I know how stressful it can be waiting as I have since the end of June and still not heard anything I have moved from Galway to Dublin already and going into my 3rd week of college and seriously stressing out and I may have to leave college early to try get to Galway tomorrow to get into the social welfare office before it closes at 4pm!

moldypeach

i got through to them by phone a 2 weeks ago, was told i had to send in my resumption letter, which i got at the end of first year and sent in!! i was then told it would be in my file and she would send out a new letter?? i said but i sent it in already , she couldnt go down the stairs to get my file unless she had my letter .....which was in my file!! what a mess, i sent in the duplicate letter and got accepted i have handed in my registration letter a week ago but no sign of the 500

Tzetze

Ditto on the registration letter. I handed mine in a week ago last Friday. Was hoping to see the 500 last Thursday, now hoping for this Thursday...

chriz

Woop got the beta for second year, handed in the registration letter today so should get the 500 soon enough and will be able to pay the debt i owe a friend cos they they payed the registration fee for me lol

Tzetze

Handed in my letter of registration on the 11th. Still no book allowance... *sigh*

pandamoanium

Tzetze wrote: »

Handed in my letter of registration on the 11th. Still no book allowance... *sigh*

Same as! Sheesh!

There's little to no information forthcoming at all from the BTEA department in Galway regarding peoples application, if they've been processed, when they can expect to be switched over to the BTEA payment, can expect to receive the cost of materials allowance etc...

I mean I know they're probably inundated with apps this year but jeez at least answer your phones or just send a quick letter to people letting them know where they stand!

xinchao

Just reading all yer posts in this thread.
I think this is a nation-wide problem. I live in clare and the Ennis branch is the same. They never answer the phone and if they do answer it, it's just to pick it up and put it down again, which is so annoying, however the government has said it's because they are so busy. and i can understand that to a point. but you would think that if they answered the phone then people wouldn't be forming the queues so much? anyway I applied for my BTEA programme in June.
Yes, June! Only received my letter of acceptance last week. But i had to fight my way to get it. I called up to the office half a dozen times. Eventually i got someone's extension number there and could ring directly and got through.
But that person then couldn't find my application and said would i think of re-applying again? hahaha..By the way this was in the middle of August. I told him quite calmly that i had applied and through another more provincial branch and that they handled the application so IT must be there. He looked for about 20 minutes and came back and said yes they had received it. but the woman who was responsible for it had retired in the start of August and they hadn't anyone to replace her yet.
But i said i had applied back in June not August, so it should have been looked at by now. Yer man just looked at me and gave me a wry smile. haha..
So he said he would process it for me as soon as he could. By then three weeks later, a week into University, i rang him again to check on it. He wasn't there, but a woman answered the phone, she said she would pass on the message to him, he rang a week later, and said what do i want, so i told him my name and said i had my letter from the University stating that i was registered etc and should i send it in immediately just to speed up the application process seeing that I AM at University already. He quite smugly said i was jumping the gun a bit and i should fill out an application form first. I think i was crying at this stage, haha, so eventually i mustered my compose together and informed him that I had already met him, and we chatted about this and he was handling my case, personally, he admitted that he had not really done much and BUT would this time. He told me to send in the letter from the University and so i did. I got a letter last week stating that i was accepted but i needed to get a letter from the University stating my registration. Gezzzzzzzzzzz....
but all things end well i suppose, i got it anyway, that's the main thing. I should be glad i got it in the first place. But BOY you really have to work for it!;)

Tzetze

Another week, and still no book allowance. I've a stack of books to be bought, not to mention registration fee to be paid back. Three weeks now since I handed in the letter of registration. Anyone get their allowance yet?

moldypeach

nope not a sign. im going to try and head down tomorrow and find out what's happening

WiseMona

Got the letter stating I will get the BTEA (last Monday) YEAH!
However, I have no idea when the funds will come.....................doesn't sound like it will be anytime soon.:rolleyes:

chriz

WiseMona wrote: »

Got the letter stating I will get the BTEA (last Monday) YEAH!
However, I have no idea when the funds will come.....................doesn't sound like it will be anytime soon.:rolleyes:

Same here im still waiting hopefully we will get it before christmas.

pandamoanium

Anyone hear anything back from the BTEA office in Galway since?

I got a letter about 2/3 weeks ago saying that my application was succesful, however haven't heard anything since!

How do I know when they've switched my claim over to the BTEA?

Also does anyone know how the E500 materials allowance is paid - is it via cheque or bank transfer or what?

Thanks all!

Hope some of you have good news by now!

WiseMona

Well Lads n'girls,
I got the BTEA notice a few weeks ago, and had to send in the official registration papers to the Social Welfare Office in order to complete the application and have access to funds. I still have heard nothing and when I went to collect my dole money today - there was nothing there for me :eek:........................so to make a long story even longer I reckon I will be getting the BTEA this week??

Does anyone know if it is paid weekly/monthly? I have no idea whether or not it is paid via check or direct deposit to the pitiful bank account

Chet T16

Its paid into your account everyweek. Thursday for me

WiseMona

Chet T16 wrote: »

Its paid into your account everyweek. Thursday for me

And tamorrow is Thursday!:D Here's hoping! Anyone in Galway hear about their GRANT yet? Anyone get a letter of acknowledgement from Galway Co. Council?

Tzetze

Still no sign of the 500, 4 weeks after handing in the registration letter. I think I'm receiving BTEA payments though, because I haven't had a signing reminder for ages now.

Anyone in Galway received their 500 yet?

chriz

Tzetze wrote: »

Still no sign of the 500, 4 weeks after handing in the registration letter. I think I'm receiving BTEA payments though, because I haven't had a signing reminder for ages now.

Anyone in Galway received their 500 yet?

Nope not yet, there waiting for some people to drop out of ther course so they dont have to pay them the 500.

WiseMona

Woop! Got my BTEA weekly allowance today. Still no sign of the 500 fee. I phoned Galway office today and they said it would not be issued for at least 4 more weeks.;)

pandamoanium

I got a letter about 6 weeks ago saying that I had been approved for the BTEA and had been successful in my application - yet today I get a letter to sign on for Jobseekers Allowance next week.

Anyone else get this in Galway?

noaddedsugar

My dp didn't get his btea today as it was suspended as he hadn't signed on. He never got a signing reminder and wasn't even supposed to sign as he is on btea. I'd go upstairs and ask them about it as you don't want to risk being cut off. They don't seem to be particularly efficient there.

Tzetze

pandamoanium wrote: »

I got a letter about 6 weeks ago saying that I had been approved for the BTEA and had been successful in my application - yet today I get a letter to sign on for Jobseekers Allowance next week.

Anyone else get this in Galway?

Yep, I've just experienced the same. Came home to find a signing reminder in the post! I got the same letter confirming that I'm entitled to BTEA for a second year, and handed in confirmation of registration 6 weeks ago.

I've only one lecture at 9 on a Friday, so will be straight over to enquire about this situation after that. At least I'm not the only one who experienced this, and they probably already know that it has happened, but I'll go in and see if I can get some info regardless.

WiseMona

Hi there,
I got my BTEA allowance as promised first deposited into the bank account and also found the signing on sheet in the post when I got home. I phoned the Galway office and they said it is just automated - and I do not have to sign on. I am however going to pop over there tomorrow with that notice and the letter from them to show I am now on BTEA - just incase they cut me off. They are inundated with claims and have been very nice to me on the phone.;) - anyone get the book allowance yet??

pandamoanium

Hey Guys!

Just wondering if anyone here got the Book Allowance yet?

I got that sign on reminder slip there on the 15th October, went into the office the next day, the 16th, to be told like the rest of you, that it was a mistake no need to sign on etc...

Whilst I was there the lady also said to me that I should be receiving the book allowance soon and that they were being sent out the following week.

Well that week has come and past, still no sign on book allowance though.

Anyone here dealing with Galway SW get that Allowance yet?

Tzetze

I went in to see the BTEA lady after getting the yellow slip too. Was also told to ignore it and to expect to see the book allowance in a couple of weeks. So, I'm half-expecting to see it tomorrow...

Well, here's tomorrow and still no sign of it. No surprises at all really.