FAS Course / Back To Education Allowance question

IRISHSPORTSGUY

I'm going back to second level school in September, yet I'm desperate to get out of the house and do something productive. The FAS course I want to apply for starts in March, but the thing is it runs on until June 29th.

I have to be unemployed for 78 days for the BTEA though, and I remember the last time I did a FAS course I didn't need to sign on during that time.

Would I still be okay for BTEA if I fully completed the FAS course?

mp22

Time spent on BTEA, VTOS, FÁS training courses, Fáilte Ireland Training course, Community Employment schemes, FIT, Youthreach, Rural Social Scheme, Back to Work Allowance, Back to Work Enterprise Allowance, Short Term Enterprise Allowance, FÁS Job Initiative, Revenue Job Assist, Supplementary Welfare Allowance, in prison or in Direct Provision can count towards the qualifying period. You may go directly from one of the above schemes to Back to Education Allowance provided you were getting one of the qualifying social welfare payments listed above before you started the scheme. In all cases you must start your approved course of study within 4 weeks of leaving the scheme. Otherwise you must be getting a qualifying social welfare payment immediately before starting an approved course of study.

From here http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/back_to_education/back_to_education_allowance.html

IRISHSPORTSGUY

Thank you. So I gather since I will be social welfare until I start the course basically everything will be okay?

mp22

I would presume so,but you should make sure yourself by contacting the dept directly.