Back to education

James__10

I got offered a PLC course for the coming year which is starting in September. I think i'm eligible for the BTEA I downloaded the forms and i'll send them away on Monday. How long will it take for a decision to be made?

amtw

I cut this from the Citizens Information site, hope it helps.

Contact your local second- or third-level school or college to get details of the courses available. They will also advise you on how to get a place on the course of your choice.
When you are accepted on a course, you should notify the Department of Social Protection by filling in the Back to Education Allowance application form (pdf), which is also available from your Social Welfare Local Office.
You must get written confirmation that you are registered as a full-time day student from the college registrar or admission officer. You will not get payment of BTEA or the Cost of Education Allowance until you give this confirmation letter to the Department of Social Protection.
If you are not fully registered because your college is waiting for payment of the student contribution (formerly known as the student services charge) from your local authority or VEC, you must get a letter from the college explaining this so that you can be paid BTEA.
You must apply for BTEA before starting an approved course. A late application will be accepted if there is a good reason for it being late and it is received by the relevant section in the Department within 30 days of the course starting.
Send your application to the section in the Department of Social Protection that deals with your payments – see ‘Where to apply’ below.

James__10

amtw wrote: »

I cut this from the Citizens Information site, hope it helps.

Contact your local second- or third-level school or college to get details of the courses available. They will also advise you on how to get a place on the course of your choice.
When you are accepted on a course, you should notify the Department of Social Protection by filling in the Back to Education Allowance application form (pdf), which is also available from your Social Welfare Local Office.
You must get written confirmation that you are registered as a full-time day student from the college registrar or admission officer. You will not get payment of BTEA or the Cost of Education Allowance until you give this confirmation letter to the Department of Social Protection.
If you are not fully registered because your college is waiting for payment of the student contribution (formerly known as the student services charge) from your local authority or VEC, you must get a letter from the college explaining this so that you can be paid BTEA.
You must apply for BTEA before starting an approved course. A late application will be accepted if there is a good reason for it being late and it is received by the relevant section in the Department within 30 days of the course starting.
Send your application to the section in the Department of Social Protection that deals with your payments – see ‘Where to apply’ below.

So there is no point applying for BTEA until September then

Sue Ellen

You can apply now. You can't start the BTEA until you provide the college or school letter but you can get approval in advance.

James__10

Sue Ellen wrote: »

You can apply now. You can't start the BTEA until you provide the college or school letter but you can get approval in advance.

Thats great thanks. How long roughly would the decision take?

Sue Ellen

It depends on the office. That section will be extremely busy with the BTEA finishers from 2011/2012 year at the moment. I would say about 4-6 weeks. But a rough idea is if you are over 21, 6 months on claim for second level or 9 for third level, at least 2 years out of full time education and the course is a progression on any previous course then you should be fine.

James__10

Sue Ellen wrote: »

It depends on the office. That section will be extremely busy with the BTEA finishers from 2011/2012 year at the moment. I would say about 4-6 weeks. But a rough idea is if you are over 21, 6 months on claim for second level or 9 for third level, at least 2 years out of full time education and the course is a progression on any previous course then you should be fine.

I'm only 19 I dropped out of college (level 7 ) in April 2011 and have been getting JSA since last June. I applied for a PLC (level 5 ) and got a place. I was told by my local employment office that I might get BTEA.

James__10

I have the BTEA forms filled out. I'm planning on handing them into Social Welfare office tomorrow. Is that too early?

Sue Ellen

Not at all. Leave it in once it is completed . The claims will be dealt with as received no harm in it bring in early.

James__10

Sue Ellen wrote: »

Not at all. Leave it in once it is completed . The claims will be dealt with as received no harm in it bring in early.

Left the forms in today so fingers crossed.

I was talking to someone who done the course i'm doing and was told that i'll need to buy alot of books at the start of the year.

I was told that you get €300 at the start of the year is this true?

cee_jay

James__10 wrote: »

I'm only 19 I dropped out of college (level 7 ) in April 2011 and have been getting JSA since last June. I applied for a PLC (level 5 ) and got a place. I was told by my local employment office that I might get BTEA.

The guidelines state you must be 21 or older to qualify for BTEA.
Those aged 18-20 years must be out of formal education for 2 years in order to qualify - which you haven't been. So you might be disallowed.

James__10

cee_jay wrote: »

The guidelines state you must be 21 or older to qualify for BTEA.
Those aged 18-20 years must be out of formal education for 2 years in order to qualify - which you haven't been. So you might be disallowed.

Last completed education was the Leaving Cert which I done in 2010. I didn't complete the level 7.

cee_jay

The guidelines state:

Aged between 18 and 20 and out of formal education for at least 2 years.

The guidelines don't distinguish between completing a course or not - just that you have been "out of" formal education for 2 years. You were in formal education up to April 2011.

James__10

cee_jay wrote: »

The guidelines state:

The guidelines don't distinguish between completing a course or not - just that you have been "out of" formal education for 2 years. You were in formal education up to April 2011.

Hopefully special dispensation can be given! Anyway i'll see what happens and wait on the result.

James__10

I dropped the BTEA forms down on Wednesday last 20th June. I got a letter out yesterday saying I need to pay 200 quid registration fees by the 6th July. I don't want to pay the fees unless I am getting the BTEA. Would it be possible for a decision to be made by the 6th of July?

wmpdd3

I'd doubt it, unless it was a refusal. Contact the PLC course and tell them you are applying for BTEA, they may have a different option for you.

James__10

Sorry for the milllion and one questions this is the final one.

IF I get the BTEA will I be getting €188 a week? I'm on JSA and i'm currently only getting €100 a week?

wmpdd3

You get the full amount for your age so yeah, I think you would get €100. Just realised if they refuse you thats it.

8. Can I appeal against a decision?
The Back to Education Allowance is a non-statutory scheme and, as such, if you disagree with a decision on your application you do not have a right to appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.

However, you can request (in writing) a review of your case by the officer in charge of the relevant local Social Welfare Office or section, enclosing any new evidence in support of your request for a review.

http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Publications/SW70/Documents/SW70.pdf

James__10

wmpdd3 wrote: »

You get the full amount for your age so yeah, I think you would get €100. Just realised if they refuse you thats it.



http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Publications/SW70/Documents/SW70.pdf

Some people are saying i'll get €188 a week others are saying €100

Yeah so fingers crossed I get the decision I want

Cliona99

This is from the Citizen's Information site:

The Back to Education Allowance is paid at a standard rate. This means, if you are getting a reduced rate of payment it is increased to the maximum standard rate of payment while you are getting BTEA. If you are already getting the maximum rate, you continue to do so.