BTEA. Did anyone get a reply?

Russian Blue

Just wondering did anyone hear anything yet about the BTEA?

Or anyone that applied early last year, when did they contact you?

Wondering how much more of a wait i have got. I want to sort things out before college starts, mainly accommodation. But i dont know where the money is going to come from.

Saoirsef

I got a letter after a week asking me for proof of my course acceptance. I am now waiting for the letter that says to activate payment i must provide them with proof of registration, i cant get that until later this month.

bc dub

I applied to the college directly and they accepted me.

They told me in mid August they would get back to me and then I should begin the BTEA process.

Is this correct or should I apply now?

IPushButtons

Im applying now, theres not rule to say you cant and you'll know ahead of time where you stand with finances.

bowlerjd

I applied six weeks ago when I got my acceptence letter from college. Haven't heard a peep since. The SW office said I have to just sit it out and wait till I hear from them

Russian Blue

I applied two weeks ago. I even had the registration letter with it. I mean, if they're opening others and sending letters asking for proof of acceptance within a week? How long does it take for them to decide?

bowlerjd

Russian Blue wrote: »

I applied two weeks ago. I even had the registration letter with it. I mean, if they're opening others and sending letters asking for proof of acceptance within a week? How long does it take for them to decide?

Agreed. There's two much to be getting on with, without having to waitfor SW to get their act together.

IPushButtons

Saoirsef wrote: »

I got a letter after a week asking me for proof of my course acceptance.

Where did you get this letter, was it from the CAO or the College its self.

bowlerjd

IPushButtons wrote: »

Saoirsef wrote: »

I got a letter after a week asking me for proof of my course acceptance.

Where did you get this letter, was it from the CAO or the College its self.

I sent them a copy of the receipt of the bank giro for the acceptence fee I had to pay. The giro form was sent out by the college

IPushButtons

No dramas i'll give the CAO a bell and ask them they will know where i can get a letter of acceptance

Saoirsef

Well i went to my local sw office in July to apply for btea and they told me they would accept applications for processing at the end of July, so that's what i did. I just need that letter of registration now as i said. They seem to move prety quick once your application is complete.

Saoirsef

IPushButtons wrote: »

Where did you get this letter, was it from the CAO or the College its self.

All applications are different, depending on courses, previous time on btea/vtos etc Unless they have asked you to get this for them then don't add paperwork to the pile. Stop worrying.

I was on btea before and even though i was approved(prob the end of july or early august) i didnt get the letter until sept telling me when my payments would start.

In my experience you cannot shift the social welfare movement on paperwork up a gear, its a waiting game.

Saoirsef

IPushButtons wrote: »

No dramas i'll give the CAO a bell and ask them they will know where i can get a letter of acceptance

Its just the letter you received after you officially accepted, the correspondence that your university sent you.

IPushButtons

Saoirsef wrote: »

Stop worrying.

Im not stressed, it's good to know tho the who, what, where, and when, should i need to

Saoirsef

IPushButtons wrote: »

Im not stressed, it's good to know tho the who, what, where, and when, should i need to

Ok, I didn't hear a peep last year from the sw until i registered as a student and was attending. So if that helps you may be waiting until then to hear from them. But i wouldnt wait for them to send out a letter, the minute you register, get the letter the same day, and drop it into the sw office.

Sir Gallagher

I've got a question about the BTEA that one of you guys might be able to clear up for me without me having to start a new thread. Basically i'm in receipt of the part-time social welfare payment i.e i work a few hours per week and get a social welfare payment on top of that depending on how many hours i do that week. Will I still be eligible for the BTEA?

IPushButtons

Depends on what welfare payment your getting and how long you've been getting it see here >> http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/back_to_education/back_to_education_allowance.html#l1f4da

Saoirsef

Sir Gallagher wrote: »

I've got a question about the BTEA that one of you guys might be able to clear up for me without me having to start a new thread. Basically i'm in receipt of the part-time social welfare payment i.e i work a few hours per week and get a social welfare payment on top of that depending on how many hours i do that week. Will I still be eligible for the BTEA?

Yes you may as long as you have still been signing on for the qualiying period. I work casual, i was on vtos last year which counts and i work part time and sign since June, i went in to them at least 4 times to make sure i qualify. They said that once i have been signing on for the qualifying time and receving payment, i will qualify for BTEA.

have you applied yet?

Saoirsef

Sir Gallagher

3. How do I qualify for BTEA?
The BTEA is for a wide range of people who might want to return to education, so people qualify in different ways, depending on their age and circumstances.

One way to qualify for BTEA is if you have claimed Illness Benefit for two years or more.

Another way to qualify is if you:

are aged at least 21, or
are aged at least 24 if you want to do postgraduate study, and
getting one of the following for at least,
3 months (78 days of unemployment) for the Second Level Option
9 months (234 days of unemployment) for the Third Level Option
Jobseeker's Allowance or Benefit,
Farm Assist,
One-Parent Family Payment,
Deserted Wife's Allowance or Benefit,
Widow's or Widower's Contributory or Non-Contributory Pension,
Prisoner's Wife's Allowance, or
Carer's Allowance.
You can also qualify for BTEA if you:

are aged at least 18, or
are aged at least 24 if you want to do postgraduate study, and
getting one of the following for at least,
3 months (78 days of unemployment) for the Second Level Option
9 months (234 days of unemployment) for the Third Level Option
Blind Pension,
Disability Allowance,
Invalidity Pension, or
Incapacity Supplement (based on a life Disablement Pension).
Note:
For Jobseeker's claims, the duration of claims are counted in number of days of unemployment. However, Sundays are not counted as a day of unemployment.

gowayuwilya

Saoirsef wrote: »

Sir Gallagher

3. How do I qualify for BTEA?
The BTEA is for a wide range of people who might want to return to education, so people qualify in different ways, depending on their age and circumstances.

One way to qualify for BTEA is if you have claimed Illness Benefit for two years or more.

Another way to qualify is if you:

are aged at least 21, or
are aged at least 24 if you want to do postgraduate study, and
getting one of the following for at least,
3 months (78 days of unemployment) for the Second Level Option
9 months (234 days of unemployment) for the Third Level Option
Jobseeker's Allowance or Benefit,
Farm Assist,
One-Parent Family Payment,
Deserted Wife's Allowance or Benefit,
Widow's or Widower's Contributory or Non-Contributory Pension,
Prisoner's Wife's Allowance, or
Carer's Allowance.
You can also qualify for BTEA if you:

are aged at least 18, or
are aged at least 24 if you want to do postgraduate study, and
getting one of the following for at least,
3 months (78 days of unemployment) for the Second Level Option
9 months (234 days of unemployment) for the Third Level Option
Blind Pension,
Disability Allowance,
Invalidity Pension, or
Incapacity Supplement (based on a life Disablement Pension).
Note:
For Jobseeker's claims, the duration of claims are counted in number of days of unemployment. However, Sundays are not counted as a day of unemployment.

Can i ask, is the postgrad option just limited to h-dips or does it cover all post-grads and masters?

Saoirsef

Note:
The postgraduate option of the BTEA scheme is only for people who wish to take:

a postgraduate course of study that leads to any Higher Diploma (H. Dip.) qualification in any discipline, or
a postgraduate Diploma in Education (Primary or Secondary teaching).
Other postgraduate qualifications including a Master's degree are not recognised for BTEA purposes.

You will not get the BTEA if you already hold a postgraduate qualification.

Thats from the welfare.ie website

bc dub

Coincedntally to this thread, I got a letter from my college today...basically it says to come in on the 23rd of August with the course fee in full amongst some other items...
Then it goes on to say "If you have already applied through the VTOS or BTEA scheme please come on the day and we will give you a letter and forms for the social welfare"

Bit confusing because I didnt apply through that scheme but intend to. I know you have to be unemplyed 9months and today, I'm not, but by the time the course starts, I will.

Guess I'll get onto the social office asap!

hdowney

yea i am going to go get my form for btea today, fill it out and drop it to the social. i haven't heard anything specific from the college yet. i accepted my place via the cao after offers on the 7th july, and they said all further correspondence would be direct from the college so i presume i just keep waiting til they send me something to tell me when registration is, then go to reg and ask for a letter for the social that says i have registered?

the mother thinks some colleges won't write to any student until after the lc offers have gone out?

Saoirsef

Well it is ok for you to email the college aswell, if you are wondering when registration is and when you start, so drop them an email if you have not heard anything.

Colleges and universities are very used to people on vtos/btea asking for letters, so just tell them you need a letter saying that you are a fully registered student now.

My college had a hard copy last year for social welfare letters, they just filled in the blanks like names, pps course etc

dath

They told me, very nicely, in the Finglas office that they don't accept or process the applications until mid August.

bowlerjd

Saoirsef wrote: »

IPushButtons wrote: »

Im not stressed, it's good to know tho the who, what, where, and when, should i need to

Ok, I didn't hear a peep last year from the sw until i registered as a student and was attending. So if that helps you may be waiting until then to hear from them. But i wouldnt wait for them to send out a letter, the minute you register, get the letter the same day, and drop it into the sw office.

Went to the social welfare yesterday afternoon, the lady there reckons that the btea applications haven't even been opened yet.

IPushButtons

bowlerjd wrote: »

Went to the social welfare yesterday afternoon, the lady there reckons that the btea applications haven't even been opened yet.

What evidence did she give in support of this hypothesis ?

Hunchback

i rang the county council office in mayo, and the lady on the phone said the same thing, that applications ( in ny case for the maintenance grant) aren't looked at until mid august, and they will let us know by mid september

Jessibelle

The BTEA claims are dealt within the local offices by a specific officer, rather than one giant pool, so therefore the office in Cork may not have started processing them yet, whereas others might have started processing them weeks ago.

Ciderswigger

dath wrote: »

They told me, very nicely, in the Finglas office that they don't accept or process the applications until mid August.

Oh thank God, I thought my SW office were the only feckers who were refusing to take BTEA applications till the last week of August.... :mad:

Saoirsef

Cork city is definitely proessing since the last week of July, not sure about other places.

Ciderswigger

I'm raging that they're making us wait so long. (I'm in North Tipp) I have orientation the week they want me to hand in the form and no doubt will have last minute things to be doing. Waiting in a queue to simply hand in a form doen't appeal to me. Oh well....

Saoirsef

Ciderswigger wrote: »

I'm raging that they're making us wait so long. (I'm in North Tipp) I have orientation the week they want me to hand in the form and no doubt will have last minute things to be doing. Waiting in a queue to simply hand in a form doen't appeal to me. Oh well....

I hate the social welfare office, so i stuck my form and everything with it into an envelope and wrote BTEA section on the front and popped it in the postbox outside the office, and they are processing mine now...i have not waited at all in the welfare office.

Ciderswigger

Saoirsef wrote: »

I hate the social welfare office, so i stuck my form and everything with it into an envelope and wrote BTEA section on the front and popped it in the postbox outside the office, and they are processing mine now...i have not waited at all in the welfare office.

I asked could I do that and the 'ever plesent' girl behind the counter said that the form isn't processed in my local office, it has to go to Thurles. I said I'll send it there and was told that Thurles may send it back if they get it early. Tbh, I think that's bull (the sending it back bit) but I don't want to take the chance so I'll be on the SW doorstep at 10am on the 29th. :rolleyes:

Saoirsef

Ciderswigger wrote: »

I asked could I do that and the 'ever plesent' girl behind the counter said that the form isn't processed in my local office, it has to go to Thurles. I said I'll send it there and was told that Thurles may send it back if they get it early. Tbh, I think that's bull (the sending it back bit) but I don't want to take the chance so I'll be on the SW doorstep at 10am on the 29th. :rolleyes:

It is bull...

Ciderswigger

Sending it so....on your head be it!! :P

Thanks though.

Saoirsef

Ciderswigger wrote: »

Sending it so....on your head be it!! :P

Thanks though.

um ok no bother, send it to this main office.:)
Its such bull, they are understaffed, overworked...and bla bla. Its not our problem and why should we suffer because of it.

I don't feel bad for them, i'm always so nice when i have to go in there and thy are always nasty, mean and unobliging horrible people..who are just miserable.

So add to their misery, they are not kind to us mwah ha;)

Saoirsef

I got my letter this morning saying i am approved and payment will start once they receive proof of registration with university.:)

hdowney

Saoirsef wrote: »

I got my letter this morning saying i am approved and payment will start once they receive proof of registration with university.:)

lucky you. my form is almost complete, i don't know the number of weeks i have been on ja (like a long time but they want me to put it in weeks so am gonna have to ask). my problem is my local sw office is a shambles. yer one in there isn't great at bothering with anything, she has even had the cheek to have a go at people bringing in forms needing signed. so i don't particularly wanna take it in there. i wanna take it down the road about half an hr, but i don't got the petrol to drive down there just for that. argh

Saoirsef

Do you know the date you signed on first? should be easy enough from there. Some offices are ridiculous, but they have to process it unfortunately, i feel for you, some of them make you feel so bad.

hdowney

Saoirsef wrote: »

Do you know the date you signed on first? should be easy enough from there. Some offices are ridiculous, but they have to process it unfortunately, i feel for you, some of them make you feel so bad.

i honestly don't know the date i first signed on. it was a while ago. i was doing fas courses and whatnot during that time, but the first sign on was a good while ago

Saoirsef

Just ring or call into your local office and they will tell you.

Mrs Garth Brooks

Has anyone heard anything from Galway yet?

I had my form in about a month ago and im still waiting. What is taking them so long? There is too much to be worrying about. I have month before the course starts and i have to move to the other side of the country. I need to find a place, soon enough. I cant be waiting until september. Course starts on september 12. Should i fill in another couple forms? They might open one of them.

bowlerjd

It's all little rushed everywhere it seems. Still nothing happening regarding BTEA in cork. Had that from SW this morning. And got a lovely text from the grant today saying they received my application (which I sent 4 weeks ago) and to "please note, I may not receive a decision until the end of the academic year". Only looking for fees to be paid like. That's good stuff says I, due in Limerick on the 24th august and €0 funds for anything bar the first months rent and deposit. The amount of red tape in this country is unbelievable.

Laura_lolly87

I called into my local social welfare office on Tuesday with the form and the lady told me she had to send it to the Carlow Town offce. I thought I was going to have a long wait in front of me but I got a letter today telling me I had been approved and I would just have to send in a letter of registration. They also told me they had enclosed a prepaid self addressed envelope, which they didn't.

The letter was dated yesterday so I had a total of 2 days waiting.

Mrs Garth Brooks

So im better off going to carlow. I applied about a month ago to galway. Im still waiting. Called in yesterday and i was told that they just started on them this week. So i asked, what does that mean, how long more do i have to wait. She didn't know, i just have to wait. This is unacceptable. No amount of telling them, i cant wait, the course starts on the 12th of september. I have to find accommodation, like now. But im waiting to hear if il get the BTEA. If i dont, im applying for a loan. But when do i apply for a loan? Eh last week of september ???? What the fck are they at?

bowlerjd

Saoirsef wrote: »

Cork city is definitely proessing since the last week of July, not sure about other places.

Will cork east def isn't. Was told again for the second time this week just yesterday. That they haven't been touched yet

Hunchback

Did anyone enclose any sort of a letter along with their forms and their grant application?

i felt i really needed to 'flesh-out' my financial situation beyond the details in the documents i enclosed.

partially this was because my income for 2010 was one euro and fifty one cent over the income limit for the special rate of maintenance grant.

then somebody told me that they actually use your income figures for 2009!! ( i hope so ).

Absolute best of luck to ALL the maturies of 2011/2012

ratedR

Waterford SW office seem to be well equiped to handle the BTEA process.

I was accepted into the WIT Foundations Studies Course for next year. I got my offer letter in early July. I called out to the SWO the following day, and was given the form to fill in. I dropped it back in a day later, and also had my offer letter with it. The girl behind the counter said that she wouldn't need it as long as all the details of the course were on the form.

Last week I got a letter from the SWO to say that my application to the BTEA had been accepted. So it only took around 3 weeks.

I do still need to provide them with a letter from the registrars office, which I havent recieved yet. But other then that, plain sailing, thank god.

suzycat

Hey,

I'm registering on the 29th August for college. I was going to put in my BTEA form on that day with letter from college.
Now i'm wondering should i send in form before registration or does it make any difference?
Stress of it all

Saoirsef

suzycat wrote: »

Hey,

I'm registering on the 29th August for college. I was going to put in my BTEA form on that day with letter from college.
Now i'm wondering should i send in form before registration or does it make any difference?
Stress of it all

I'd say send it in now to get approved, and then take in the reg letter on the 29th to start payments. You want to know if you are approved beforehand right?