Back to education allowance question?

Darren0999

Hi guy's I'm in the process of going back to education but at the moment i'm not sure if i can afford it. As i am only 21 i get the reduced jobseeker's allowance payment of €100 per week. That is hard enough to live on as i live alone.

My question is if i qualify for the Back to Education allowance will my payment increase to €188 per week or will it stay at a €100 per week?

If it does stay at the latter I just simply would not be able to afford it.

Hopefully somebody can help me on this!

Regards,
Darren.

Balagan

Everyone approved for BTEA gets the same payment, presently €188.00, during the academic year. Only budget changes would affect the amount.

The BTEA payment starts a couple of weeks after you give a letter to the SW from the college stating that registration has been paid and you start the course. The €300 Cost of Education payment is made later after you have given the Social Welfare a letter from the college stating you are in attendance - paid last year around end of October, start of November.

Since September 2010, students entering a new course who are in receipt of the BTEA are no longer eligible for a maintenance grant. Such students can, however, apply under the student grant scheme to have the student contribution charge and any tuition fees payable for the course paid on their behalf. http://www.studentfinance.ie/mp7237/back-to-education-allowance/index.html

If you are going to a higher education college (not further education or PLC) you may be eligible for the Student Assistance Fund. http://www.studentfinance.ie/pca7235.html

Media999

Youll go on 188 during college year then back to 100 during summer.

Youll get 300 lump sum around November aswell

I thought i was told if you get BTEA you dont get the Student Assistance Fund. Not a big deal if you get your 188 plus rent allowance.
College has already started so no point in thinking about it this year.

Edit - sorry read that wrong. youve already applied etc..

Balagan

Being on BTEA does not preclude you from applying for the Student Assistance Fund. They will take the payment into account of course, like any other income or means of support you have, when deciding on your application.

Darren0999

Thanks guys cleared it up a bit for me, i have been looking in archives and through websites but i have not come across somebody in my situation yet as they only brought in the reduced rates of job seekers allowance for younger people a year or two back!

Procrastastudy

Have they reduced the lump sum to €300? It was €500 last year.

Media999

Procrastastudy wrote: »

Have they reduced the lump sum to €300? It was €500 last year.

yep.

And now you have to hand in proof that you have paid the fees which will most likely mean you have to wait for SUSI aswell.

oorrccaa

I'm in the exact same boat as you Darren. 21 and on reduced rate. There doesn't seem to be much about BTEA for people on the 100.

They state you get the full rate when on BTEA. Though the full rate is 100 when you are my age. So do they mean the full rate for your age or full rate.

The VTOS, BTEA officer in my college insists that you only get the same as you were on ie 100 in my case.

I have always thought you get the 188.

Anybody know for certain that it goes upto 188 ?

Also is VTOS the same.

The VTOS officer has told me not to apply for BTEA yet and to give it a few days until they find out if there are any more VTOS places. I'm currently first on the waiting list.

By not applying now am I putting myself at risk of not getting any payment at all ?

oorrccaa

Exceptions to age-related Jobseeker's Allowance payments for people under 25
The reduced age-related personal and qualified adult rates of Jobseeker’s Allowance for claimants under 25 years of age do not apply to:
• Claimants with dependent children
• People transferring to Jobseeker’s Allowance immediately after finishing their entitlement to Jobseeker’s Benefit
• People transferring from Disability Allowance to Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Existing Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants who are assessed at the higher rate of allowance, get work but lose that job and are back on Jobseeker’s Allowance within 12 months
• People under 25 participating in a course of education, training or Community Employment. (However, when the course ends you will return to an age-related JA payment, if you were getting one before you started the course.)


Found this on welfare.ie . . . Reading the last point it would seem you get the full 188 on vtos or btea

phoenix999

I think it goes up to 188. Just ring your local welfare office and they will confirm it. They can be helpful (sometimes at least!).

Media999

Can you not apply for both and just turn down one?

Although BTEA goes through very quickly. A week even id say.

oorrccaa

Media999 wrote: »

Can you not apply for both and just turn down one?

Although BTEA goes through very quickly. A week even id say.

I was told you cant if you go for BTEA first. But the chap at my college told me this so don't know if that means much.

Media999

oorrccaa wrote: »

I was told you cant if you go for BTEA first. But the chap at my college told me this so don't know if that means much.

Go to the Welfare office and ask. Very little time left id say.

I assume your on the dole now and in college. I thought you need to be on the dole 6 months or something to get BTEA.

oorrccaa

Media999 wrote: »

oorrccaa wrote: »

I was told you cant if you go for BTEA first. But the chap at my college told me this so don't know if that means much.

Go to the Welfare office and ask. Very little time left id say.

I assume your on the dole now and in college. I thought you need to be on the dole 6 months or something to get BTEA.

He keeps saying that I should wait to see if a VTOS place opens.

VTOS is better in my opinion. I would rather it. However I don't want too wait too long.

Theres no limit too how many people get on BTEA is there ? And the website says you can apply for it upto 30 days after the course commences.


Thinking about leaving it till Monday. Do you think that's too risky ?

I'm on the dole over 12 Months.

Media999

So your saying your on the dole AND your in college.

If so your leaving yourself up for some serious downfall. The registrar sends on all the PPS numbers soon to the dole. If you get cut off the dole you wont qualify for the BTEA as youll have a new claim i assume. No limit on how many people on BTEA its more the closing date for applications. Not 100% when this is. They let my girlfriend on it after a month in college a couple of years ago but said she was very lucky and people can be refused.

How much is VTOS? Is 188 plus rent allowance etc not enough?

wmpdd3

I would apply for BTEA asap as in theory, you are in serious breach of the JSA rules. I know it makes no sence, but thats the way it is, once you have an application in for BTEA, you cant be cut off your JSA for not being available for work.

AFAIK, the conditions for VTOS and BTEA are exactly the same, you used to be able to get the grant on VTOS, but no more.

annaj

Hello, I just wonder when will I receive my Btea?I was told that it will take a while and until that I ll be getting my payment at the post office.They also told me that my rate will be paid in full- 188 weekly.Im anxious because today I received payment of 124,80 from SW on my account(??)- the payment which was my reduced rate on JA.Anyone has got similar problem??
Have u been paid btea yet?

Media999

annaj wrote: »

Hello, I just wonder when will I receive my Btea?I was told that it will take a while and until that I ll be getting my payment at the post office.They also told me that my rate will be paid in full- 188 weekly.Im anxious because today I received payment of 124,80 from SW on my account(??)- the payment which was my reduced rate on JA.Anyone has got similar problem??
Have u been paid btea yet?

Youll get backpay. Where all in the same boat!

onionsquasher

hows it going. I applied for BTEA and was approved. I started my college friday 14th of this month. I have not heard anything from the SW office since and everytime i go they say just wait for a letter. Now i work casually and only get 64 a week of them so its a big difference! I was told just keep wait! Is anyone else getting this as well? I know two people starting the same day and have got paid already. Although one of them only got 100 euro. This is causing more stress then anything else.

onionsquasher

Media999 wrote: »

Youll get backpay. Where all in the same boat!

sorry didnt see the above statements! im new to this! I just want it to go through yano!

another question

Darren0999 wrote: »

Thanks guys cleared it up a bit for me, i have been looking in archives and through websites but i have not come across somebody in my situation yet as they only brought in the reduced rates of job seekers allowance for younger people a year or two back!

Darren, I think you should go for it because yes you will get an payment of €188 and go back to your existing payment during the summer. However, you say you are 21 and I am sure that once you turn 22 your payment increases to €144, so if you turn 22 before the summer it's a win win situation. Plus the €300 is a bonus and you will have access to applying to the Student Assistance Fund.

Extra money and an education - doesn't sound to bad :P

Media999

onionsquasher wrote: »

sorry didnt see the above statements! im new to this! I just want it to go through yano!

No hassle.

People i know who applied later than me have theirs already.

very annoying.

onionsquasher

Media999 wrote: »

No hassle.

People i know who applied later than me have theirs already.

very annoying.

yeah exactly. Im still waiting. I just want to know when its going through!
One friend dropped in his letter from the college wednesday and got a letter friday saying money will be in his bank next thursday which was last week. I handed my form in before him and have heard nothing. Every time I got up to the SW office I am told to just wait for a letter..

Media999

did they get the 300? and what did the letter say?

onionsquasher

Media999 wrote: »

did they get the 300? and what did the letter say?

he told me that he wil be getting the 300 this thursday. Hes doing a level 5 plc and im doing a level 8. so thats the only reason why i can see its taking so long for mine to go through and the fact i work 8 hours a week

Media999

But was the letter to say the fees where paid? Ive heard conflicting answers on when you get the 300.

Was told you get it as soon as you go on BTEA then i was told you get it when SUSI comes through.

Darren0999

anybody have any updates on theirs? I got my letter to say i was accepted for the btea 3 weeks ago today and they told me to hand in a letter from my college (UCC) stating im attending a full time course there.. I did that on the same day.. It also said i didnt have to sign on anymore once my course had started.. Now this was all 3 weeks ago and i was supposed to sign last week so i didnt bother..

Now i'm still waiting for my payment to change from JA to btea, When i went to the post office last week the man behind the counter told me there's going to be no payment there for me next week "which is now this week", I presume Or more like hope it's going to change and be in my bank account sometime this week or i'm screwed for rent and stuff!.. What day do they usually pay into bank accounts?

Dee88

I have am waiting too for the 300 i have completed all for and a confirmation letter from college since september today 8/11/12 and i still haven't received anything is that normal? am i the only one waiting?

Celly Smunt

out of curiosity,what happens if you didn't pay your fees but got accepted for BTEA?,do you receive the 188 with the 300 held back or do you not receive anything?

Media999

You get 188 a week then not the 300 till SUSI or whatever pays or you pay.

I received a letter from susi asking for another couple of things Friday. I applied months ago so yes its normal.

Media999

Darren0999 wrote: »

anybody have any updates on theirs? I got my letter to say i was accepted for the btea 3 weeks ago today and they told me to hand in a letter from my college (UCC) stating im attending a full time course there.. I did that on the same day.. It also said i didnt have to sign on anymore once my course had started.. Now this was all 3 weeks ago and i was supposed to sign last week so i didnt bother..

Now i'm still waiting for my payment to change from JA to btea, When i went to the post office last week the man behind the counter told me there's going to be no payment there for me next week "which is now this week", I presume Or more like hope it's going to change and be in my bank account sometime this week or i'm screwed for rent and stuff!.. What day do they usually pay into bank accounts?

Ring them. better safe than sorry.

LegacyUser

Hi. I'm just wondering do they still pay the €300 when your getting back to education allowance ?

eastbono

CAROLINE2806 wrote: »

Hi. I'm just wondering do they still pay the €300 when your getting back to education allowance ?

No the book allowance is long gone.