Sprongboard courses

bikermartin

does anyone know if you remain on jobseekers or transfer onto BTEA when on one of theese courses ?

cee_jay

You remain on Jobseekers - Springboard courses are part time, so you are expected to remain to be available for and looking for full time work.

jimmyendless

I'm signed up for a course in cit and its a 9-6 affair so this part-time doesn't necessary mean evenings or anything.

jayteecork

I got a springboard course but told I must fill out a BTEA form.

As I got BTEA before will it affect my springboard scheme place?

bikermartin

i have filled in the BTEA application form and sent in 4 wks ago. i phoned and asked about the book grant and they said on the phone i will get paid it ? so im not sure whats the storey. maybe if someone has clarification they could post it here

IADTSpringBd

Transfer to BTEA while on a springboard course is for administrative purposes for the welfare offices and only for the duration of the programme. Your payment is not affected if you fit eligibility criteria.

ajc100

Getting mixed messages from local social welfare office on this.

When i told them i was accepted on the course they told me to fill out the BTEA application form.
I asked for clarification at the time as i was led to believe the springboard courses would not have any effect on my current payments, as i would be still available for work.
Social welfare officer told me that it was a numbers thing, i.e. takes people of the live registrar, and that i would be eligible. They even when as far as to phone me a few weeks ago, to verify my course start date...

My course start next week and i have had no word from them. Went up to see them today as was told i might NOT be eligible.

They will be in touch?

IADTSpringBd

if you are on job-seekers allowance or job seekers benefit (or other benefits listed on www.bluebrick.ie/springboard) then you may be asked to transfer to BTEA for the duration of the course. if these allowances run out during the course you will still be able to complete the course. the whole idea is to up-skill and retrain without affecting allowances.

ajc100

I am on job seekers benefit and have now been told i am going on to The Part-Time Education Option (PTEO).

What is the difference between this and the BTEA?

IADTSpringBd

Took the following from www.welfare.ie - 'The Part-Time Education option was introduced to enable unemployed persons to attend part-time day/evening courses of education or training and retain their Jobseekers Allowance or Jobseekers Benefit provided that they continue to satisfy the conditions of being available for and genuinely seeking employment on an on-going basis. The purpose of this option is to enhance the employability prospects of participants'.

I am not trained in the area of allowances but this reads same as BTEA. You need to ensure that your benefits are not affected otherwise from what it is saying it would appear you are eligible for a springboard course.

donegal11

With the part time option the social welfare may come asking where have you been looking for work during the course as you are still on a jobseekers payment.

With Btea you don't have to look for work, even if you do get work you still receive the payment, you are automatically entitled to the standard rate of 188 with btea, you receive a book allowance of €500 euros, Its only for full time courses and all course have to be seen as progression.