Starting college in 10 days, still no word on BTEA.

AloKildare

Hi all im starting college in 10 days, I applied for the Back To Education Allowance 6 weeks ago and still no word! Anyone have this experience? What should I do next? Do I sign off JSA the day before I start my course? Thanks in advance for any replys.

hcass

Would you not give them a call and ask - that's what I did and they told me I was ok to go. Don't sign off whatever you do! You are not officially entitled to BTEA until you have registered at college and given them confirmation of registration. BUt do call them - I'm sure they will let you know exactly what you've to do.

ShaShaBear

If it helps I went through the same ordeal last year. I didn't sign off the dole, just continued as normal and it switched over itself. Mind you I was getting my dole into the bank at the time so it wasn't an issue for me. I know BTEA goes into your bank account, is that the way you get your money currently?

hdowney

im only bringing my form over today :eek: couldn't get a copy of the form off the fckers for love nor money yasee. newho i was not gonna come off the dole until they told me my first payment would be heading into my bank ac, cos as far as i am concerned i have given them all the information, and if they take their time to process it why should i be skint, also if i came off the dole i wouldn't be able to eat or get to college or anything.

my dole goes into my po acc though and the btea will be going into the bank, wonder how this will work, spech if i am still on the dole when i go to full college days

AloKildare

ShaShaBear wrote: »

If it helps I went through the same ordeal last year. I didn't sign off the dole, just continued as normal and it switched over itself. Mind you I was getting my dole into the bank at the time so it wasn't an issue for me. I know BTEA goes into your bank account, is that the way you get your money currently?

This could be a problem for me as I get paid into the post office, I think il give them a ring like hcass suggested and see what they say. ShaShaBear did you just apply and wait or did you ring to clarify the situation?

hdowney

took my form over to my local swo today and yer wan (not bleedin surprised) told me 'they' wouldn't even accept it until i had the letter from college saying i'd been accepted/registered/whatever. like wtf. i won't get that until the 8th, and then i am practically started frickin school, what does she expect me to do. they are hardly gonna be happy allowing me to stay on ja whilst they process my claim as i won't be available for work. i also won't be available to sign on

Mrs Garth Brooks

Anyone in galway hear anything yet?

Im still waiting. I had the form in 5 weeks ago. I called into them the week before last and was told that they started processing them the same week and i just have to wait.

Sersiously how long does it take to open an envelope and decide? And just in case my one was at the bottom of the pile from 5 weeks ago, i sent in another one last week. They should have opened it up once it arrived by post on tuesday, you would think?

I cant wait any longer, its a joke by now. Im starting on the 12th of september and i dont know where the money is going to come from. I need to sort out accommodation at the other side of the country. There's no point in moving if i cant afford to do the course.

And if they decide im not entitled to it, i need a loan. But i should be applying this week instead of applying the week before the course starts. I should have accommodation sorted by then.

What do i do? Has anyone any advice?

hdowney

HardLuckWoman wrote: »

Anyone in galway hear anything yet?

Im still waiting. I had the form in 5 weeks ago. I called into them the week before last and was told that they started processing them the same week and i just have to wait.

Sersiously how long does it take to open an envelope and decide? And just in case my one was at the bottom of the pile from 5 weeks ago, i sent in another one last week. They should have opened it up once it arrived by post on tuesday, you would think?

I cant wait any longer, its a joke by now. Im starting on the 12th of september and i dont know where the money is going to come from. I need to sort out accommodation at the other side of the country. There's no point in moving if i cant afford to do the course.

And if they decide im not entitled to it, i need a loan. But i should be applying this week instead of applying the week before the course starts. I should have accommodation sorted by then.

What do i do? Has anyone any advice?

they are varying degrees of crap alright. what you gonna be studyin and where if you don't mind me askin?

ShaShaBear

To all above who need a letter, yes they do need it (it proves you or someone has paid for your place on the course, rather than your word being taken for it).
I go into the department office for my course (science) with the student card I get at registration and ask for a letter declaring me as a full time student commencing study on such a date. They've never given me any problems (once the office is open they'll give it to you or at least tell you to call back for it. With regards to the Post Office issue, I don't know how this will be sorted but I do know you should not need to wait until you commence classes to get a letter from your college.
And to OP, I did ring up to clarify at the time, the lady on the phone told me that I would not need to sign on or worry about money, it was all done for me. Basically get your butts into your college ASAP once you've registered and get your letter

tsoparno

hdowney wrote: »

took my form over to my local swo today and yer wan (not bleedin surprised) told me 'they' wouldn't even accept it until i had the letter from college saying i'd been accepted/registered/whatever. like wtf. i won't get that until the 8th, and then i am practically started frickin school, what does she expect me to do. they are hardly gonna be happy allowing me to stay on ja whilst they process my claim as i won't be available for work. i also won't be available to sign on

the letter i gave in with my form for BTEA was the course acceptance form which i got through the post to tell me i had got the place.(this proves you got the place)
you then need to follow that up with another form which will be available at the college when you start.(this proves that you are attending)
i think some of the problems are the staff at the social welfare are not explaining thinks properly or vaguely which is leading to serious confusion.

hdowney

tsoparno wrote: »

the letter i gave in with my form for BTEA was the course acceptance form which i got through the post to tell me i had got the place.(this proves you got the place)
you then need to follow that up with another form which will be available at the college when you start.(this proves that you are attending)
i think some of the problems are the staff at the social welfare are not explaining thinks properly or vaguely which is leading to serious confusion.

the only course acceptance thing i have had so far is the yoke from the cao that looks like a payslip that says you accepted a place on course (letters and numbers) and that is it

tsoparno

hdowney wrote: »

the only course acceptance thing i have had so far is the yoke from the cao that looks like a payslip that says you accepted a place on course (letters and numbers) and that is it

i think thats it

hdowney

tsoparno wrote: »

i think thats it

ah cool. well i took it to a different swo and they took it no problems not a bother (unlike yer wan in my local who said not until i actually registered!) so thats cool

RainbowRed

Do you get accepted for the BTEA if you give them your cao letter of course acceptance? or do you have to give them the registration letter?

ryanmj

You get BTEA with the course acceptance form. Cork City had my processed in about two weeks. When you get your registration letter you need to take that down to the social welfare office in order to get €500 book allowance thing. You have to have given them that letter by October.

ShaShaBear

They wouldn't accept it with my course acceptance form last year, and they're refusing to take it with my letter outlining my date and time for second year registration, even though it's already passed and I've registered on that date (if they contacted the college they would know that). They're demanding a letter from the college to state that I am a paid and registered student for the year...

Mrs Garth Brooks

AloKildare, are you starting on the first of september?

Did you hear anything back yet from the BTEA?


Im starting two weeks on monday and i haven't heard anything. I have to find a place to rent 5 hours away from me. I dont know where the money is going to come from and dont want to be taking on a lease if i wont be there.

Its stressful crap. I have been into them twice and i was told i just have to wait. I even told them im starting next week!

tsoparno

HardLuckWoman wrote: »

AloKildare, are you starting on the first of september?

Did you hear anything back yet from the BTEA?


Im starting two weeks on monday and i haven't heard anything. I have to find a place to rent 5 hours away from me. I dont know where the money is going to come from and dont want to be taking on a lease if i wont be there.

Its stressful crap. I have been into them twice and i was told i just have to wait. I even told them im starting next week!

i had to ring them and its only when i asked for the number for the sorting office did i get any joy.got my letter last wk after i was put onto a helpful girl in the local SWO i've a feeling i had a bit of luck that i rang when she happened to be in the office she was goin back to the sorting office the next day and had a look at it for me.
i then brought it to the VEC and got talking to a worker in there.i was explaining the situation to her and that i thought the SWO just don't understand the situation people are in her reply"their understaffed".
this is hard to swallow when we're talking bout public servants especially when the last time i was in the dole office i could see solitaire been played on the computer.

Mrs Garth Brooks

tsoparno wrote: »

i had to ring them and its only when i asked for the number for the sorting office did i get any joy.got my letter last wk after i was put onto a helpful girl in the local SWO i've a feeling i had a bit of luck that i rang when she happened to be in the office she was goin back to the sorting office the next day and had a look at it for me.
i then brought it to the VEC and got talking to a worker in there.i was explaining the situation to her and that i thought the SWO just don't understand the situation people are in her reply"their understaffed".
this is hard to swallow when we're talking bout public servants especially when the last time i was in the dole office i could see solitaire been played on the computer.

Understaffed my hole. I was told they started processing them 3 weeks ago, the first time i started to worry after having the application in 3 weeks before that. The reason i sent it in early at the end of july, so i can sort other stuff out early. But i cant. I should be getting a place this week. I have been getting headaches and getting sick with the stress of it. I wouldn't mind if i was staying close to home in galway. But im not, im going to cork. I cant be up and down from cork to sort this out.

Sent in another application 2 weeks ago just in case my original one was at the bottom of the pile.

Seriously how many applications are they going through per day that they cant open 1 of them?

I tried calling them on friday. They never even answered the phone. I tried about 10 times! I have to go in again tomorrow and il try and ask to speak to someone in the sorting office. Is there anything else i could do?

What the fck do i do? Do i move in the hope il get the BTEA? Do i sign off the dole and go to class and have nothing to live on? I cant do that.

:mad::mad::mad:

tsoparno

only thing i can suggest is a politican, i've moved house a couple of times and this process has been as frustrating at times.
hopefully theres light at the end of the tunnel for you

Mrs Garth Brooks

I called into them today and i swear its no joke. I dont know what to do.

Went to about 3 different people who all told me i just have to wait. And continue to get the dole until its done in another week or 2. I told them i was starting next week in cork and i cant wait. Im in galway and cant be going up and down to collect the dole. And i thought ur not allowed the dole while in college ???

One helpful guy said he'l get the dole paid into the bank account. How believable is that though? And what happens if they stop the dole while im waiting, as im not available for work? Which is something they'll do.

Seriously dont know what to do. Whats the best thing to do? Go get a place and see how i get on until halloween? But if i dont get the BTEA, and drop out because of it, iv wasted 2 months on rent when i could have saved the money at home. Help.

Balagan

You've read the eligibility criteria for BTEA, so you should have a very good idea if you qualify. You'll just have to await the reply though, nervewracking and all as it is. Its mindboggling that the system doesn't work better. Are you collecting from a main post office in Galway? If it were a smallish PO you may be able to go in with a relative/friend and explain what's happening and ask if, on the production of agreed ID etc., they could collect your welfare payment for you. Possibly you could try to talk to someone even its the main Post Office and make this arrangement. Your friend/relative could then pay it into the bank for you, making it available to you in Cork. Its not straightforward but it should work. When you do hear from SW about the BTEA you'll have to get a letter from the college saying you're registered and attending etc., and send it to your SW office in order for your BTEA payments to commence into the bank and your book allowance to be paid. Hope you can get this temporary measure in place so that you can focus on moving and starting college. Best of luck.

AloKildare

Sorry for the late reply HardLuckWoman I have had no internet connection!! I went to my local office the day before I started, I asked what the story was and I was told that my dole payment for the following week was already transfered for me into my bank account while they worked on processing my BTEA.

Two days later I received written confirmation of the transfer of my dole into my bank. Three days later I received written confirmation that I was accepted for BTEA and that I would receive my first payment when they receive a letter from my college confirming that I am registered as a full time student and in attendance.

I hope you have received the same information!!