Afraid I wont Get BTEA & Go To College

Rahl

I've been a repeat external student for last two years and was on JS allowance.

Finally passed exams and can do 4th year and qualify for the back to education allowance.

I've been trying to get this sorted since late July. But cause of my college dragging their heels and stupid idiots never getting back to me and being given the "ah you need to talk to x, their not back till Friday" ****e I'm here waiting to be approved by my department head before I can register normally

I need to have registered and got a letter saying I'm registered to send in my BETA to the Social Welfare, I'm so stressed I could cry

I'm gonna go to the college in person tmw and ask to see the department head and see if she will approve it ASAP. All I need is that damn letter

I'm hoping maybe if she approves it tmw I can try and get admissions to give me a letter saying I'm registered or let me fill in the forms there in person or something

The SW site says late applications will be accepted with a valid reason as long as its in 30 days before the course starts. But I was just informed classes start the Sept 17th.

I feel so bad as I've missed two years already repeating and its not my fault the way things are going, I've been doing my best but for the lazy gits in the college

I'm terrified I will be late with my app and I'll be refused the allowance

I don't even know why I'm posting just venting and maybe hoping someone has had similar.

ronano

This may be of no help but have you considered putting in the back to education application to your local social welfare office and arranging a meeting with the back to education officer?

I just put in the form, a week later got a letter saying i was accepted onto btea. I didnt hand in anything else but the application form. In the letter i was told to have my registration letter/proof by early october.

I know these things are stressful as hell, i half feel they want people off the jsa/jsb to juke the stats so i hope it goes in your favour and it works out.

You could also ring the back to education section in department of social protection, always a nice bunch of people to deal with.

paperclip2

Drop the BTEA application to Social Welfare and explain to them that you will let them know the exact start date when you have it. They can process your application and have it ready to be finally approved when they have the courses start/finish dates.

If you are really worried make an appointment with the DSP Facilitator for your area. They can follow up with your application within DSP. As Ronano says you can also contact the BTEA head office for advice and more detailed information:

Tel: (071) 967 2616
Locall:1890 927 999

Rahl

I was told I need proof I've been offered a place of the course but my college will take week to approve my app so I have way of showing I've been offered the place and the woman in the SW office said I needed a letter saying I'll be given a place on the course and I don't have one yet.

Are you sure you lads that applied didn't have a CAO acceptance form/letter or anything?

I rang Leitrim and a nice man told me that in exceptional circumstances a late application may be processed 30 days after course starts. But I've been on to my local TD's office to see if they can confirm it for me.

Fingers crossed.

ronano

100 percent positive, my view was i'll get it in now or else i'll have wasted another few days and they'll ask for the form. If the person was just counter staff you were talking to then ring the number paperclip put above. They'll be able to tell you clearly what to do and give you the number of the back to education officer in your local office.

Rahl

So my TD's office got back to me after talking to the BTEA head department. They said just to send a cover letter with my app explaining I would send on the letter required as soon as I get it

Just handed in the forms and as soon as I mentioned the TD's name and what I was told the SW lady was all polite (she's usually a wagon :mad: ) and said she'll send them off

PopTarts

Rahl wrote: »

The SW site says late applications will be accepted with a valid reason as long as its in 30 days before the course starts. But I was just informed classes start the Sept 17th.

.

It's 30 days after the course starts for late applications.