Rejected for BTEA, then JSA stopped

Cliona99

This is partly to let off steam and partly to warn anyone who might be in the same situation.

In August I applied for the Back to Education Allowance and for a place on a course at a local plc college. I wasn't eligible for the BTEA because I already hold a qualification at a higher level. I thought, 'fair enough', didn't attend the interview, didn't register, or enrol or attend any classes. Everything seemed fine until this morning when I went to the post office to collect my JSA. No money there, which was a bit of a shock. Went straight to the social welfare office. Apparently they assumed I was in college and therefore closed my claim. (why they couldn't have sent me a letter beforehand, or done some of their 'information sharing' with the college, or why they waited until ten weeks into the school year, is beyond me).

So now I need to start a whole new claim. And get a form stamped by the college all about the course that I was never enrolled on. I asked how long it would take and the (very nice) lady replied "How long is a piece of string?"

I have no money; for food, or bills, or petrol. (I'm already so far behind on my rent that another few weeks won't make much difference). I'm going to see the CWO on Thursday morning who will, please god, be able to help me out until my JSA claim is re-opened. If anyone has any other suggestions, short of robbing a bank or going on the game, they'd be appreciated.

Tl;Dr, if you applied for BTEA and didn't get it, but didn't start a course, be careful. Your unemployment benefits may cease without warning.

Balagan

Suspension
Where it appears that a question has arisen or may arise as to whether the conditions for receipt of JA are or were fulfilled, or whether a decision should be revised, payment of JA may be suspended in whole or in part until the question has been decided. This question could arise, for instance, pending investigation of a refusal by a person of an offer of suitable employment.
http://www.welfare.ie/EN/OperationalGuidelines/Pages/ja_jobseekall.aspx#disqualother

While the SW can suspend your claim pending a question being decided, they could only terminate/close your claim after investigation by their Special Investigation unit. They must tell you the grounds on which the closing of your claim is based. Did you earlier get a letter stating that your BTEA application was unsuccessful and did it enclose any form you were to return stating that you would not be pursuing the course? Otherwise, from what you wrote, the closing of the claim is likely to be linked to the checks outlined below. There have been cases of people with the same name leading to confusion. Your getting a letter from the college stating that you never took up the course should clear it up but in the meantime your claim should be suspended, rather than closed, and your supplying the necessary confirmation should be enough to immediately lift the suspension.

In addition, as part of wider Departmental control procedures a student data match takes place annually. The Department requests and receives data in relation to all students on an annual basis. When the Department receives this data, the student details are matched against the social welfare databases. Cases identified where a student is in full-time education and are in receipt of a jobseekers payment (excluding Back to Education) are referred to the Special Investigation Unit for investigation. Where there are irregularities, claims are terminated and overpayments raised which the Department actively pursues. Fraudulent cases are considered for prosecution.http://www.welfare.ie/EN/OperationalGuidelines/Pages/bte_all.aspx#3.2

upinthesky

just make sure the college have you of there list aswell

Cliona99

I got a letter refusing BTEA but no form to return to them. I probably should have got in touch myself. I'm assuming my claim has only been suspended and not closed, and I'm going to the college today to get some forms filled in which should convince the social welfare office that I'm not in college. Thanks for the info.

saa

So the social welfare won't help you retrain if you already have a higher degree?
I'm finishing a degree and know I will never gain anything other than unskilled employment without a masters (out of the q without funding) or retraining in another area

so they won't help me now?

LovelyHurling

Ask with your local SW office.

It would seem to be pretty irrational not to agree to assist in the retraining of an applicant who already has a qualification to an equal level in (for example) carpentry or quantity surveyance, but who has found that qualification to be useless in the current economic climate.

cee_jay

LovelyHurling wrote: »

Ask with your local SW office.

It would seem to be pretty irrational not to agree to assist in the retraining of an applicant who already has a qualification to an equal level in (for example) carpentry or quantity surveyance, but who has found that qualification to be useless in the current economic climate.

Irrational or not, the current guidelines state someone has to be moving up in qualifications to partake on BTEA. So if someone has a Level 8 degree, they cannot get BTEA for a qualification at an equivalent or lower level.
They would have to be doing a higher diploma or a graduate diploma in Education to qualify for BTEA.