Applying for rent allowance after moving to BTEA

u60gypx5jakoti

Hi there,

I am currently on Back to Education Allowance. Thus I am not eligible for a Student Maintenance Grant. I am led to believe however that I should be eligible for rent allowance since the BTEA is classified as a social welfare payment. Is this true, even though I am in full time education? I have rented for more than 6 of the previous 12 months so I meet that requirement.
I need to know I am eligible before I can get a new place of my own in Dublin. At the moment I am commuting and it is taking away from my study time, so I`d like to move to Dublin, though only if I can get Rent Allowance.
I know if you were receiving rent allowance before you moved to BTEA you would retain it, but is it possible to apply for it AFTER moving to BTEA.

According to welfare.ie
You won’t qualify for Rent Supplement if you:
Are attending full-time education. However, if you are getting a Back to Education Allowance or participating in the Back to Education Programme you may be entitled to the Supplement.

The word "may" is not very conclusive. Any help???

RoyalMarine

yes, you are entitled to apply for rent allowance while on back to education allowance.

the word "may" is there to suggest some might not be elligable because you need to make sure your rented accomodation does not exceed the allotted amount for that area.

you can find the current rates here.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/social-welfare/social-welfare-payments/supplementary-welfare-schemes/rent_supplement

u60gypx5jakoti

Great. And this 24Euro that you must at least pay towards your rent. Is that 24 per week or 24 per month? Once again, the official website is not clear. :rolleyes:

RoyalMarine

the €24 is per week sadly.

here's an example of my situation.

my rent is 270 a month.
i recieve 38.50 a week towards the rent.

i pay the rest myself.

u60gypx5jakoti

Ah, pity. Thanks for the information. Take care.

em09

I'm recieving the BTEA and am in the process of getting the rent allowance, I was told that i have to apply to Dublin City Council for housing accommodation which i have done, and they sent out the forms and now i have to go in and talk to somebody and they are ment to write me a letter saying that im approved or not for the rent supplement, then i must show this letter to my local community officer and then they will issue me the rent supplement.......is this how anybody else has had to do to recieve it????

Just seem like an awefull amount of hassle and bull sh!t to go through...

runswithascript

Say one had a part time job on the side while receiving BTEA, still eligible for rent allowance?

I know that those working no more than three days Monday to Saturday, and Sunday if they like as they don't count that day, are eligible for BTEA at least.