Help! Need Clarification re. Rent Allowance on BTEA

Tope

Hi, hope someone can give me a definitive answer on this!

I’ll be starting college soon as a mature student, and thought I had covered all the financial angles until today, when I was told that although you can keep your rent allowance if you’re already receiving it, you can’t actually apply for it once you’re a student.

Is this true? I was planning to apply for rent allowance soon as I’ve just moved into a place that accepts it, but does the fact that I’m starting college next week affect my eligibility? (I’m on JA at the moment, which will switch to BTEA once I start college).

I’ve been looking this up online all evening and most people seem to think that you can apply once you’re on BTEA - can anyone confirm this and save me from a nervous breakdown?!

Thanks!

ShaShaBear

Right, well hopefully things are the same where you live, but I made it clear I was going back to college when I applied for my rent allowance and got approved - mind you, I applied about two weeks ago, and don't start college for another fortnight. But they were aware, and it didn't affect my application. The biggest issue you are going to have is that your CWO needs to come out and inspect your living arrangements. They call any time of the day, any day (usually before 6PM and not on weekends) so if you are back to college next week and they havn't called out, you have a problem.

If you get in and speak to the CWO for your area, take a pen with you if you must, get those forms in ASAP and pray your CWO is on the ball, you could have the acceptance in place by next week, once you get approved you just have to wait for payment, which won't affect your studies

Tope

Thanks so much ShaShaBear, that’s good to hear!
I’ll be calling down to my CWO tomorrow and try get my paperwork sorted out. I’ve heard that he’s very well organised so hopefully things will get moving quickly. I think I'll have a few days off next week so fingers crossed I'll be available when he comes round!

Can't wait to get all this financial stuff organised so I can start focusing on my studies instead of application forms!

Thanks again for replying

u60gypx5jakoti

If you`re on the BTEA, the CWO knows you have classes to attend, so they will make an appointment with you in advance to view the place at a time that suits you both. They won`t expect you to skip classes and lay about waiting for them at home. Also, you can apply for rent allowance before you are approved for BTEA or even afterwards, once you meet all the other usual criteria.

Tope

Thanks TheMachine, that makes sense, they could hardly expect me to sit at home missing classes!
I actually called the HSE infoline today and a very helpful lady said that I should be ok once I'm on BTEA, it's if you're on the maintenence grant that you can't apply for Rent Supplement. So that must be where my original source got their information mixed up. I was in a total panic but things should be okay now!

Thanks for all the help!

ShaShaBear

Mine wouldn't make an appointment with me because she said she had to maintain the element of surprise

Tope

Oh no, hope mine will be more accommodating! I know they don't want you to have a chance to run around hiding evidence of secret live-in boyfriends or whatever, but expecting you to miss lectures at the very start of college seems unreasonable. I'm really looking forward to starting my course and I don't want to miss anything!