BTEA (Back To Education Allowance) Question - Something I find very strange. ?

whirlpool

You have to register on your course and receive acceptance by the college BEFORE you can apply for BTEA.

But what if you only want to do the course if your application for BTEA is granted?

If I apply for the course, and I am accepted by the college, and then my application for BTEA is rejected, I will then be in a situation where I have registered and paid for a course which it turns out I can't afford because my application for BTEA has been rejected.

I need confirmation that I will receive BTEA before I can commit to paying for the course. But the current system doesn't seem to allow that.

So basically, I've to register and pay for the course, and then my application for BTEA could be rejected, meaning I can't afford the course after all, but I've now already registered on it and paid for it...

Does this seem very inconvenient and strange to anyone else?

I could have some facts and information wrong here, and that is why I am making this post. If anyone can help me out with working this out, that'd be great.

Thanks.

Techno_Toaster

I can see your point but the rules for BETA are layed out clear enough that you should be sure enough wither you satisfy the means and will be awarded it.

If your in doubt call up to SW and talk to them tell them you are considering going back to college if you havn't found work by then but can't really afford to pay for a course if your not going to recieve BETA i'm sure they could advise you

whirlpool

Techno_Toaster wrote: »

I can see your point but the rules for BETA are layed out clear enough that you should be sure enough wither you satisfy the means and will be awarded it.

If your in doubt call up to SW and talk to them tell them you are considering going back to college if you havn't found work by then but can't really afford to pay for a course if your not going to recieve BETA i'm sure they could advise you

Thanks for your reply.

I'm actually pretty confused now in general. I want to begin a part-time, distance-learning, flexible-hours course which requires sixteen hours study/work per week. I am currently in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance for over twelve months. I want to keep receiving my Jobseekers Allowance payments while taking part in the course. I don't want to apply for any extra payment, but the CitizensInformation website seems to be treating BTEA as an extra payment. I'm not looking to receive any extra payment. I'm just looking to maintain my current JSA payments. Do I still apply for BTEA in that case?

January

BTEA is a completely different payment to JSA and you can switch between the two during summer months (when not attending college you are put back onto JSA for the duration)... it's not an extra payment.

whirlpool

January wrote: »

BTEA is a completely different payment to JSA and you can switch between the two during summer months (when not attending college you are put back onto JSA for the duration)... it's not an extra payment.

Do you know: how much time can a JSA recipient dedicate to a course before it is seen as making you no longer "available for work?"
("Available for work" being one of the requirements you have to satisfy in order to receive JSA.)

Can you be enrolled on a part-time, low-hours course and still be considered "Available for work?"

If yes: If you are taking part in a course AND are "available for work," should you apply for BTEA, forfeiting your JSA? Or should you maintain your JSA while doing the course?

If no: well then obviously you have to apply for BTEA I assume, and just hope that you are granted it.

Balagan

whirlpool wrote: »

Thanks for your reply.

I'm actually pretty confused now in general. I want to begin a part-time, distance-learning, flexible-hours course which requires sixteen hours study/work per week. I am currently in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance for over twelve months. I want to keep receiving my Jobseekers Allowance payments while taking part in the course. I don't want to apply for any extra payment, but the CitizensInformation website seems to be treating BTEA as an extra payment. I'm not looking to receive any extra payment. I'm just looking to maintain my current JSA payments. Do I still apply for BTEA in that case?

No, BTEA is for full time courses only. To remain on JSA you have to be available for and seeking full time work. However there is an arrangement whereby you can go back to part time education and you should apply for this. Details here http://www.welfare.ie/EN/OperationalGuidelines/pages/bte_pteo.aspx

whirlpool

...but the BTEA application form (BTE1) covers:

"
> Back to Education Programme:
> Back to Education Allowance Scheme (Second Level and Third Level Option),
> Education, Training and Development Option
> and Part-time Education Option"

as you can see here: http://www.welfare.ie/EN/forms/documents/bte1.pdf

...hence (part of) my continuing confusion.

EDIT: Okay well I think this part clears that up somewhat:

Retention of JA / JB
Local offices approach such applications in a flexible way bearing in mind the following requirements;

Jobseekers Allowance & Jobseekers Benefit recipients may participate in a part-time course and continue to receive their JA / JB payment under the Back to Education Programme, Part-Time Option.

Participants on part-time courses who continue to receive payment of JA / JB are required to satisfy the conditions of being available for and genuinely seeking employment on an ongoing basis.

Where a JA / JB recipient is pursuing a part-time course of study on the understanding that the course will help to enhance his/her employment prospects, s/he should be encouraged to complete the course. However, attendance on a part-time course under the PTEO is allowed on the clear understanding that availability for and genuinely seeking reasonable work


So yes what you said was correct. Thanks for your reply.

I suppose I just have to hope that my application to retain my JSA is accepted, and if it's not then I'm not quite sure what I'm gonna do re: having money.

cee_jay

For your application to be successful, you really need to put your case forward that as it is part time, it will not affect you taking up a full time job. You need to be still looking for and available for full time work, so put your case forward that you are. They will probably do a check shortly into the course starting that you are looking for work.

whirlpool

cee_jay wrote: »

For your application to be successful, you really need to put your case forward that as it is part time, it will not affect you taking up a full time job. You need to be still looking for and available for full time work, so put your case forward that you are. They will probably do a check shortly into the course starting that you are looking for work.

Cheers.