Am I entitled to anything?

LegacyUser

Hi all,

I was in second level adult education from September until last week, when my course finished. I am hoping to go back in September (to finish the course), but it depends whether I get a place.

While in college I received the back to education allowance of €188 euros per week, now that I am finished college for the summer, I have no money, unless I get a job.

While I have no job, I have no money to live on, currently I have 4 cents in my purse.

Luckily I live at home (I was living out of home while in college) so was unable to save anything due to rent/bills/food/travel

I went into the Social Welfare today and make a repeat claim (I was on JSA before when I was unemployed) and the women there told me because I am a student I am unable to claim anything.

I explained that my course is now finished until September and I have no other income, all she said was "you are still a student so you can claim anything"

I am 19, my mother earns very little money (she works part-time, the BTEA I was receiving in college, was a bit more than her weekly weekly wages), my grandmother owns the house, my father is not a part of my life and I have no siblings.

Is there anything at all, no matter how small that I can claim? I cannot even afford a postage stamp to send out any CV's.

I don't know if they have no stopped my BTEA payment from next week onwards as they know I am not in college now, but even if they haven't stopped it and it is continued to be paid into my bank account, I will not touch it, it is not my money to spend, it belongs to the state/taxpayer and is only payable when one is attending a college course, as I am now finished college I have no right to spend that money. It is also fraud (in my opinion) which is a crime, and something I refuse to do, so if they do continue to pay it into my bank account, when they realise their mistake (and they will realise) all the money will be there for them when they want it back.

Any and all help appreciated, thanks.

cee_jay

Go back to your local office, if you have been on BTEA you are entitled to claim for the summer - the correct process is to make a repeat claim.
I don't know why the person in there told you otherwise. You may need a letter from the college to say the course is finished. I would try meet someone else in the office if at all possible - and instead of going to the claims area of the office, try the BTEA section.

LegacyUser

cee_jay wrote: »

Go back to your local office, if you have been on BTEA you are entitled to claim for the summer - the correct process is to make a repeat claim.
I don't know why the person in there told you otherwise. You may need a letter from the college to say the course is finished. I would try meet someone else in the office if at all possible - and instead of going to the claims area of the office, try the BTEA section.

Thank you, cee_jay.

I have filled out a repeat claim form (this one: http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Forms/Documents/UP6.pdf ).

There is no BTEA section in my local Social Welfare office, there the reception desk and then there is 4 hatches.

Yes I do need a letter from my college, the college office closes at 1pm on a Friday and I did not know until 3pm (when I visited my local SW office) that I needed a letter from my college, I will phone the college on Monday morning and ask for a letter.

Thank you for your help, I appreciate it.