Worried about BTEA

Shryke

I'm 23 and recently (November) quit the job I left due to bullying and bad hours. It's now January and I still haven't recieced any welfare. I've been working constantly for the last 5 years and this is a real financial blow. I've made my mind up that I want to go back to college. It will be just 5 years since I dropped out of my first college course. I've called the welfare office a few times but they tell me they don't know anything and that I'll just have to wait for a letter to be sent out.
Does it look like I will or will not qualify for BTEA? Is there any variation or leniency given with the 9 month duration a person must be in reciept of a welfare payment?
This is my first time ever signing on. I'm not familiar with the process and unsure what to expect.

GavMan

My GF was 2 months signed on after having lost her job as a hairdresser. She was looking for work in that 2 months but it was obvious she would not get a decent job anytime soon so she decided to go to college and get a degree.

She applied for BETA and she was declined as she wasn't 9 months out of work. She appealed on the basis that her circumstances were exceptional and she had no prospects of work, given the jobs market as it stands and her lack of qualifications. No dice. We're having to do it the hard way.

Ur best bet is to stay signed on till september and then apply for the term starting then

Lugh Ildanach

Shryke wrote: »

I'm 23 and recently (November) quit the job I left due to bullying and bad hours. It's now January and I still haven't recieced any welfare. I've been working constantly for the last 5 years and this is a real financial blow. I've made my mind up that I want to go back to college. It will be just 5 years since I dropped out of my first college course. I've called the welfare office a few times but they tell me they don't know anything and that I'll just have to wait for a letter to be sent out.
Does it look like I will or will not qualify for BTEA? Is there any variation or leniency given with the 9 month duration a person must be in reciept of a welfare payment?
This is my first time ever signing on. I'm not familiar with the process and unsure what to expect.

The issue that's likely holding things up is whether you voluntarily left your employment. If they consider that you left unreasonably, they can disqualify you for a maximum of 9 weeks from payment. If you are dissatisfied with the decision you can appeal it to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (although this takes months).

As for Back to Education Allowance. You must first wait for your Jobseekers claim to be processed. Once you have been in payment for 3 months (for second level) or 9 months (for third level), you can apply for Back to Education Allowance. You must first get a place on a full-time approved course, and then you apply for the allowance. For full details see here - http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Schemes/BackToEducation/Pages/btea.aspx

Balagan

Shryke wrote: »

I'm 23 and recently (November) quit the job I left due to bullying and bad hours. It's now January and I still haven't recieced any welfare. I've been working constantly for the last 5 years and this is a real financial blow. I've made my mind up that I want to go back to college. It will be just 5 years since I dropped out of my first college course. I've called the welfare office a few times but they tell me they don't know anything and that I'll just have to wait for a letter to be sent out.
Does it look like I will or will not qualify for BTEA? Is there any variation or leniency given with the 9 month duration a person must be in reciept of a welfare payment?
This is my first time ever signing on. I'm not familiar with the process and unsure what to expect.

Hopefully, you will squeeze in under the rope with regard to the 9 months to qualify for BTEA. Also, if you haven't done so, and are in need of money now to tide you over till Jobseekers Allowance is approved, you can apply for Supplementary Welfare Allowance http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/supplementary_welfare_schemes/supplementary_welfare_allow.html from the Community Welfare Officer (now known as Department of Social Protection's representative) at your local HSE health centre. Any amounts paid to you will be deducted from your JSA backpayment when it comes through.

Shryke

I'll ask about meeting the community welfare officer tomorrow.

Does the fact that I haven't recieved any payment or even word yet maybe indicate that they've decided not to give me anything for the 9 weeks? They would at least let you know of the fact?
This is making New Year very difficult.

amtw

They can refuse you Jobseekers for up to 9 weeks if you contributed to your own unemployment. You could try asking for the reason for the delay in writing and if it's because you left your job you could instigate an Unfair Dismissal case (constructive dismissal), which they should take into consideration if you say that you just had not choice but to resign. Then it might be just the back log over Christmas and the New Year that has delayed everything. Your Community Welfare Officer should be able to give you a basic supplementary welfare allowance if you have no other income.

Shryke

Just to update everything came through OK and I'm getting what I should. My back payment was there on the 6th of this month but the notification was sent to a wrong address! I hope the 6th isn't too late to be considered eligible. I'll have to get out a calender and count out the 234 days.
This is a stupid question but will the back pay that I've recieved mean that I've been in reciept of a welfare payment since I left work now, or would my payments have considered to have been started on the 6th? This is a really stupid question I bet!

cee_jay

The slip you received from the Post Office should show the dates you were paid for.
Also the automatic claim award letter you received will say from what date your claim was awarded from.