losing BTEA after working abroad?

poozers

I have applied for college for this september coming. I am unemployed and I will qualify for BTEA! Even though I wont know whether i have recieved a place in college for another while, I am confident I will get one. Anyway, Im over 23 but this post isnt about college anyway. But I have been unemployed since last July and have had no luck finding a job. I am currently on the dole. but there is jobs going within the EU just for the summer (for 3 months), but I am worried when I come back in september my opportunities for BTEA will be gone?! is there anyway around this (legally!) ? i am just here looking to see if anyone has any general info on what to do in a situation like this! thanks in advance

snubbleste

You've obviously read the rules on Btea regarding this. What's the answer?

Balagan

Qualifying period
For second level courses you must have been getting a qualifying social welfare payment (see above) for at least 3 months (78 days of unemployment*) immediately before you start the course.

For third level courses you must have been getting a qualifying social welfare payment (see above) for 9 months (234 days of unemployment*) immediately before you start the course.
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/back_to_education/back_to_education_allowance.html

There is a massive increase in BTEA uptake from people who qualify so no leeway at all in respect of the qualifying criteria. Only option you would have is to forego BTEA and apply for a grant.

Lugh Ildanach

The 3/9 months criteria doesn't have to be met all in one go. YOu can add your time on relevant social welfare payments provided that no more than 52 weeks separated them.

1.11 Linking Periods

Periods spent on other relevant Social Welfare Payments, that are not broken by more than 12 months (52 weeks), can be used in determining if an applicant satisfies the qualifying period criteria.

You do however need to be on a relevant social welfare payment at the start date of your course, so if you do go to work in Europe, make sure you are back and have your claim sorted out before the start date of your course.

Of course, if you voluntarily give up work in Europe to return to Ireland, you may find yourself disqualified from Jobseekers (and BTEA).

If you are in receipt of Jobseekers Benefit (on your stamps) you can transfer your Benefit payment for 3 months to another EU country to look for work.

mp22

While we have 2 different interpretations of the rules here, OP you really must check yourself as to the meaning of the phrase "immediately before you start the course".

If I may suggest that your local welfare office is the place to ask first.

Lugh Ildanach

mp22 wrote: »

While we have 2 different interpretations of the rules here, OP you really must check yourself as to the meaning of the phrase "immediately before you start the course".

If I may suggest that your local welfare office is the place to ask first.

Good advice.

I have spoken with Department on several occasions and they have confirmed the linking arrangements, but still, you're always best checking any info you get on a site like this for yourself, especially before you do something that may prejudice you later down the line.

cee_jay

Just to clarify, Jobseeker's claims can "link" to each other - Allowance links within a year, Benefit in 6 months.
OP as you state you are on the dole, I am going to presume you are on Jobseeker's Allowance, and you are claiming since July 2011.
To qualify for BTEA you will need 234 paid days (9 months) on Jobseeker's Allowance for a third level course (78 days for Second Level). So in April you should have the required time in payment for BTEA.
If you go to Europe for the summer, as Lugh Ildanach has stated, as long as you are not away for more than a year, your 2 Jobseeker's claims will link together - so your new claim on your return will take up at the previous Claim paid days, i.e. if you had been in payment for 300 days before going, you go for less than a year, come back and claim Jobseeker's Allowance again, your claim starts at 300 days. So you don't lose the number of days you have claimed so far.
This is in the guidelines Part 1.11:

Periods spent on other relevant Social Welfare Payments, that are not broken by more than 12 months (52 weeks), can be used in determining if an applicant satisfies the qualifying period criteria.

But keep in mind that you must be in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance prior to starting the course of study. From the guidelines:
To qualify for the Back to Education Allowance (second level or third level option), a person must secure a place on an approved course (as specified above) and satisfy the conditions immediately prior to the commencement of the first year of the course.

So the day before starting your course of study you must be in receipt of Jobseekers.

However, if someone gave up a job abroad to come home, I would very much doubt that they would be disqualified for claiming for 9 weeks - I have never heard of it happening but that's not to say it wouldn't. You would be subject to the Habitual Residence Condition on your return.