BTEA Refusal

Irishstabber

Basically I was in with the Social Welfare today to try transfer to BTEA...

My situation is this:
Finished second year of an Elec Eng Ord Degree in May and went onto the dole for the first time in June. At the time it was my intention of leaving the course because I could not afford to go to college everyday and I still owed tuition fees for the previous two years.

I am currently on Casual Jobseekers Benefit and receiving Rent Allowance. Without these and my casual work I would not be able to survive, Literally I would starve on the streets. Anyway less of the dramatics.

Since my hours in work have been cut down I thought I might chance the BTEA, since I received Stat Redundancy in Jan, and continue into 3rd year as I would receive the equivalent of what I do now and still be able to work while in college.

Its a win win. College and proper support.
Unfortunately when I explained all this to a SW officer in the SW Office she absolutely slated me and treated me as if I am trying to pull the biggest scam of all time. I tried to explain that it was not a scam and that my circumstances deemed that continuing college would be more beneficial if I could get the BTEA. On two occasions I asked her to refrain from being snotty and demeaning.

She actually asked me if I would like her to send out my refusal letter.
The cheek of her. I would like to see her be in my situation someday. Unfortunately she will never be with public sector pay and pensions.
Her reasons were that I did not meet the guidelines set out by the SW.

The only requirements I am aware for in MY situation are:
*Be in receipt of statutory redundancy within the last year
*Be eligible for a SW payment (which I am)

Truthfully I cannot afford to go now so I wont. I only wished to gauge the situation as I would like to finish my studies.

What is wrong with this country that the SW would rather I waste my life on the dole than continue my studies to be an Engineer, a productive member of the economy.

I feel embarrassed and really pissed off at the way she treated me and will be emailing and posting a letter of complaint to her office supervisor.

There is no appeals process for refusal of BTEA so I don't believe I have any other recourse.

Jessibelle

You can send in a written request to ask them to review your case again, however, because you're not starting at year 1 of your course, it might be refused outright on those grounds alone I'm afraid,

jayteecork

I think you have to be going into first year of a course.

susiebubbles

You may be entitled to it next year. You have to be in receipt of s.w. for a longer period than you have been. People have gotten it in the middle of their studies due to this (having taken time out and received s.w during this time).

While I agree it makes little sense that you'll have to wait another year, if every student could do this, they would and there is no way s.w could afford that! It's crap she was so rude to you, I'm not sure I'd put a complaint in if you do intend to apply next year though. Sucks but she has the power.

siblers

You should find out is it beacue you weren't on SW for 9 months? Cause it does say

Undergraduate courses

You must be starting your third-level course at year one. However, you can apply for BTEA if you:

Did not complete your course and are returning to the second or subsequent year of your course
Are exempt from part of your course because of a qualification you received in a previous course. For example, you have a higher certificate in a course that you now wish to pursue to degree level.
Completed some of your course as a part-time student, but are now getting a jobseeker's payment and will continue your course on a full-time basis

Postgraduate courses

With regards to not being on SW for 9 months, it says this in relation to redundancy

Redundancy

If you are awarded statutory redundancy under Irish legislation, you can have immediate access to the BTEA. To qualify you must:

Take part in the BTEA scheme within one year of getting statutory redundancy
Be entitled to a qualifying social welfare payment before starting your course - see list above

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/back_to_education/back_to_education_allowance.html#l1f4da

Kerry3333

I totally agree with you....This country do things the wrong way round!
I wanted to start a course this year but found out I will not qualify for BTEA either as the course I wanted to do was a lower level than the current level I already hold. Like I understand that they want us to be furthering our education. I understand that.
But what I do not understand is that some of us dont want to be on SW forever so we are trying to do something with our lives and they are refusing our requests. We would be better off in education than on the dole for an extra year. So now I am forced to pull out of the course that I applied for because of SW. I dont think it is entirely fair.