Back to Education Allowance

fennellryan

I am returning to university in September and plan to apply for the Back to Education Allowance (I am currently unemployed and in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance).

I am just wondering when do I need to apply for it - I downloaded the form online and filled it out but is says you have to have proof of your registration in order to apply - but I wouldn't be registering until mid September and wouldn't have registration confirmation until then. Do I stay on Jobseekers right up until I begin college or is there a gap in payments? Any information on this would be great as I am slightly confused!

Balagan

4. How do I apply?
You should contact your local second or third level school or college to get details of their courses. They will also advise you on how to get a place on the course of your choice. Remember, only you can get a place on the course of your choice. We cannot help you to do this. When you have been accepted on a course, notify us by filling in the form BTE 1.

Applications for BTEA must be made prior to commencement of an approved course but late applications will be accepted if received within 30 days of the commencement date of the course, provided there are reasonable grounds for doing so.http://www.welfare.ie/en/publications/sw70/pages/abacktoeducationallowancebtea.aspx

Just as soon as you have been accepted on a course, fill out the application for BTEA. They will consider your application and if you are granted BTEA you will have to produce evidence that you have registered for the course before your Jobseekers payment switches to a BTEA payment. There should be no gap in payments. But the sooner you get your application in, the better, as backlogs seem to develop every year.

wmpdd3

I am just wondering when do I need to apply for it - I downloaded the form online and filled it out but is says you have to have proof of your registration in order to apply - but I wouldn't be registering until mid September and wouldn't have registration confirmation until then.


You need proof of registration to receive it, not to apply. You mightn't have this till Oct, so dont worry.


Do I stay on Jobseekers right up until I begin college or is there a gap in payments? Any information on this would be great as I am slightly confused!

No gap, you stay on JSA till you get BTEA, it could be well into Oct by the time the grant pays for the registration. Once they do, you switch onto BTEA and it gets paid into the bank. YOu get the full rate, €188 per week. Sometime later you'll get the €300 cost of education all. Just tell your tutors you cant buy anything till you get this.

if you're applying for the grant for the €3000 registration, get onto it ASAP, that took alot longer than the BTEA to apply for.

fennellryan

Balagan wrote: »

4. How do I apply?
You should contact your local second or third level school or college to get details of their courses. They will also advise you on how to get a place on the course of your choice. Remember, only you can get a place on the course of your choice. We cannot help you to do this. When you have been accepted on a course, notify us by filling in the form BTE 1.

Applications for BTEA must be made prior to commencement of an approved course but late applications will be accepted if received within 30 days of the commencement date of the course, provided there are reasonable grounds for doing so.http://www.welfare.ie/en/publications/sw70/pages/abacktoeducationallowancebtea.aspx

Just as soon as you have been accepted on a course, fill out the application for BTEA. They will consider your application and if you are granted BTEA you will have to produce evidence that you have registered for the course before your Jobseekers payment switches to a BTEA payment. There should be no gap in payments. But the sooner you get your application in, the better, as backlogs seem to develop every year.

Thank you Balagan

fennellryan

wmpdd3 wrote: »

I am just wondering when do I need to apply for it - I downloaded the form online and filled it out but is says you have to have proof of your registration in order to apply - but I wouldn't be registering until mid September and wouldn't have registration confirmation until then.


You need proof of registration to receive it, not to apply. You mightn't have this till Oct, so dont worry.


Do I stay on Jobseekers right up until I begin college or is there a gap in payments? Any information on this would be great as I am slightly confused!

No gap, you stay on JSA till you get BTEA, it could be well into Oct by the time the grant pays for the registration. Once they do, you switch onto BTEA and it gets paid into the bank. YOu get the full rate, €188 per week. Sometime later you'll get the €300 cost of education all. Just tell your tutors you cant buy anything till you get this.

if you're applying for the grant for the €3000 registration, get onto it ASAP, that took alot longer than the BTEA to apply for.

Thanks - this makes it a lot clearer!