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neo2010

Hi everyone,

Has anybody received the payment yet.

I applied at the end of August and have received nothing as of yet.

Seems a bit of a farce considering I'm back weeks at college and am flat broke.

I know one person that received it in the first week of September and loads more that haven't even received confirmation.

Has everyone here gotten it yet?

Sonz

Have you sent/gave them the letter saying you'r enrolled in the college?

DirtyLeeds

I'm guessing you're referring to the 500 euro book grant

I'd imagine it'll be included in your payment this week or next week.

As for the letter from college, I contacted my local office and seemingly they switced me to BTEA from Jobseekers automatically at the start of the semester when I returned to commence 2nd year and told me I didn't need to supply anything and my book grant would come in due course

neo2010

Hey,

I'm actually referring to the weekly payment and the 500 grant. I actually submitted the enrollment letter from college about 7 or 8 weeks ago. Received another letter from my local social welfare requesting some new documentation at the same time.

Sent it off and have heard nothing.

It's just a bit worrying as I desperately need books for college and still haven't gotten them because of the long delay.

Balagan

neo2010 wrote: »

Hey,

I'm actually referring to the weekly payment and the 500 grant. I actually submitted the enrollment letter from college about 7 or 8 weeks ago. Received another letter from my local social welfare requesting some new documentation at the same time.

Sent it off and have heard nothing.

It's just a bit worrying as I desperately need books for college and still haven't gotten them because of the long delay.

Would recommend getting another letter stamped by the college and taking it into the SW office and ask to see someone about your BTEA. If you are in college away from where your SW office is located, give the letter from the college and a covering letter from yourself, including your PPS number, to a kind friend or better still, a relative, to take to the SW office on your behalf and have them ask to see someone - they should get the name of the person who deals with them.

neo2010

Thanks for the advice.

It's actually insane at this stage how slow the Social Welfare work.

I went to my local office about two weeks ago inquiring and they were less than helpful.

Just shrugging shoulders and saying my application has not gone through yet.

Farcical considering I applied at the end of August.

eastbono

Are you still in receipt of you JSA/JSB?

cee_jay

You should still be in receipt of payment though while waiting for BTEA to come through?
What payment were you in receipt of?

neo2010

I am still in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance.

I know I am definitely entitled to BTEA, just haven't heard anything back at all - lot of classmates are in the same position.

It's Limerick City Social Welfare office that I'm dealing with.

Hopefully some notice will be forwarded to me soon regarding my application.

eastbono

Well as long as you are still receiving a payment that is the main thing. Have they transferred you payment to your bank account? There is a huge volume of BTEA again this year. So it being a city office it will be absolutely manic.

ConfusedGuy92

I was waiting like 9 months for JSA so I know the feeling lol.

Just posting to ask if someone can quickly tell me what I need to qualify for BTEA? I'm saving up every penny for college now and pretty much am just waiting until I qualify, so I should have saved up a bit to keep myself going and pay rent and stuff. I'm 19 now and have been out of college since the 2009/2010 year. Thanks.

neo2010

Still haven't heard anything back. It's getting really frustrating at this point.

I am going to go to my local social welfare office today and see what is the status of my application - probably going to be fobbed off again but it's worth a try just for peace of mind.

Balagan

neo2010 wrote: »

Still haven't heard anything back. It's getting really frustrating at this point.

I am going to go to my local social welfare office today and see what is the status of my application - probably going to be fobbed off again but it's worth a try just for peace of mind.

Bring a letter with you also. Be sure to stress in the letter and when you talk to the BTEA person/supervisor/manager the real difficulties being thrown up by
being 8 weeks into the academic year and having to produce essays already and not being able to afford books without the book allowance. You really need to put that point politely and clearly as there isn't always an understanding of how undermining it can be for a student to start the year with such a drawback. Good luck!

wmpdd3

ConfusedGuy92 wrote: »

I was waiting like 9 months for JSA so I know the feeling lol.

Just posting to ask if someone can quickly tell me what I need to qualify for BTEA? I'm saving up every penny for college now and pretty much am just waiting until I qualify, so I should have saved up a bit to keep myself going and pay rent and stuff. I'm 19 now and have been out of college since the 2009/2010 year. Thanks.

Well, I know you have to be over 21 and claiming JSA/JSB.

brembo26

you can get it if your under 21 but you have to be receiving JSA for 18 months or there abouts. im 20 and im getting it...

basillarkin

No sign of the book allowance yet, they told me the last week in October, they are impossiable to get on the phone.

brembo26

Not in yet here in Galway either.

basillarkin

Im in Galway myself, it's gone beyond a joke at this stage.

eastbono

Have you handed in letter from college stating you are still in attendance. Once that is submitted you should be paid the book allowance.

brembo26

Ive had that letter in since the 18th of Sep or there abouts. Its crazy!

eastbono

brembo26 wrote: »

Ive had that letter in since the 18th of Sep or there abouts. Its crazy!

A lot of sw offices dealing with btea look for a letter in October as people dropped out just after receiving their book allowance. Are you sure it wasnt your registration letter that you submitted.

brembo26

Well yeah it was but they said thats grand nothing else needs to be handed in. My payment started the following week. Im not too surprised its taking this long, it didnt go through last year in Galway untill November 10th.

eastbono

brembo26 wrote: »

Well yeah it was but they said thats grand nothing else needs to be handed in. My payment started the following week. Im not too surprised its taking this long, it didnt go through last year in Galway untill November 10th.

I am presuming this is not your first year on BTEA and if so they will not need the extra letter as you finished your 1st year. Whoever is doing BTEA will usually process all BTEA claims on the same day and will also process the book allowance on the same day. Give the office a buzz and see what is happening.

brembo26

Its my first year alright I just know one or two people on it for their second year in a row and it was the same situation with them last year and they are also still waiting for the book allowance this year.

Sure ill give them a ring on Tuesday, no harm in it! Ill stay positive :P

shoppergal

My husband got his €500 Cost of Education Allowance last week(We're in Limerick)

eastbono

Some areas in Cork were paid out last week. Depends on the office.

brembo26

Received it here in Galway today

siblers

Still waiting down in Kerry