BTEA changes budget 2013

Keogh08

The budget factsheet states that the payment you receive will be equalised to the payment you recieved prior to btea, does this mean that if you received a means tested jobseeker allowance of €80 prior to getting btea that you will no longer receive the €188 from January 2013.

Really stressed about this, anybody else?

Also the €300 cost of education allowance is gone!

Please see 3rd page http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Topics/Budget/Bud13/Documents/budfact13.pdf

StillWaters

Its for new entrants only as far as I can tell, so you will maintain your enhanced payment if you are already getting it.

Shryke

I just saw this mentioned in AH. Anyone definite on what's going to happen with this? Will someone on BTEA get the same rate through college or will the rate drop in between college years? Maybe silly questions.

Keogh08

The €300 cost of education allowance is gone for both new and existing participants.

Its not as clear wether the equaliser payment affects only new applicants, anybody know?

JustLen

Anybody manage to get clarifacation on this?

Annasopra

Shryke wrote: »

I just saw this mentioned in AH. Anyone definite on what's going to happen with this? Will someone on BTEA get the same rate through college or will the rate drop in between college years? Maybe silly questions.

It's very clear from the link in the OP.

Reduced rate is for new participants

http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Press/PressReleases/2012/Pages/pa051212.aspx

New participants on the Back to Education Allowance who had been in receipt of a reduced rate of a qualifying payment because of means, will not have their Back to Education Allowance up-rated

New participants on the Back to Education Allowance who had been in receipt of a reduced aged related rate of Jobseeker's Allowance of €100 or €144 per week will receive €160 per week on their Back to Education Allowance per week. Previously, this had been €188 per week.

Allowance is abolished

The €300 Back to Education Allowance will be discontinued for new and existing participants

Keogh08

Thanks for that mango salsa, do you mind me asking where that information is from?

JustLen

Just rang the office in Carrick-on-Shannon who confirmed its new applicants only, as just confirmed here also.

Very nervy there for a while I would have been rightly screwed.

JustLen

Keogh08 wrote: »

Thanks for that mango salsa, do mind me asking where that information is from?

I just heard it directly from the BTEA office in Lietrim so safe to say its the correct info

Annasopra

Keogh08 wrote: »

Thanks for that mango salsa, do mind me asking where that information is from?

The link in your post

Keogh08

mango salsa wrote: »

The link in your post

Sorry the link in my post was to the pdf that wasnt as clear.

Thanks for the responses, its a huge relief.

Annasopra

Keogh08 wrote: »

Sorry the link in my post was to the pdf that wasnt as clear.

Thanks for the responses, its a huge relief.

Sorry

From the Department press release

http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Press/PressReleases/2012/Pages/pa051212.aspx

annacanna

ive being looking through welfare.ie and cant see anything on one parent family payment and the grant. at the moment i recieve both but cannot find out if this has being changed in the budget.

anyone know?

threbletrouble

how do the changes affect our situation?

I am in receipt of Jobseekers as the main claimant and my partner was on the 124 increase as a qualified adult.... in Sept he went onto BTEA, and is currently on 188 (before the budget).

Are they going to reduce him down to the original 124 to match his 'previous sw payment'??? If so then that is very severe, 65 taken all in one go.

all the research so far doesn't mention the qualified adult rate, just 'means' and age-related.

we are stressed having to wait until jan 2013 to know how we stand......

t.i.a

Annasopra

Therebletrouble

As I have said above - changes in the rates are only for new entrants. If your partner is receiving 188 he will continue to receive 188

am292

I am in an awful situation- I was planning on going on to a Degree course after my current VTOS course ends in May '13. Looks like i'll be looking hard for a job instead now, as I only get €30 in the means test. I am very disheartened about this decision because I truly believe that I am worth more to society with a higher qualification than in my current position

Celly Smunt

am292 wrote: »

I am in an awful situation- I was planning on going on to a Degree course after my current VTOS course ends in May '13. Looks like i'll be looking hard for a job instead now, as I only get €30 in the means test. I am very disheartened about this decision because I truly believe that I am worth more to society with a higher qualification than in my current position

will your btea not be brought in line with your age rate?

am292

I am 30 so that rules the age rate option out

pppink

How on earth am I going to be able to afford going back to college now?:(:(:( was planning on going back september 2013! and im not eligible for the grant either as i dropped out of my first degree(personal reasons)! its such BS:mad: and im having no luck in job hunting atm....

steddyeddy

pppink wrote: »

How on earth am I going to be able to afford going back to college now?:(:(:( was planning on going back september 2013! and im not eligible for the grant either as i dropped out of my first degree(personal reasons)! its such BS:mad: and im having no luck in job hunting atm....

If you dropped out for personal reasons you may have more leeway than you think. A friend of mine dropped out of his degree and came back. He intially was asked to pay fees but when his circumstances were taken into consideration he was able to go back. He also went to a local vec worker and she wrote a letter to the social welfare helping him get the btea!

pppink

steddyeddy wrote: »

If you dropped out for personal reasons you may have more leeway than you think. A friend of mine dropped out of his degree and came back. He intially was asked to pay fees but when his circumstances were taken into consideration he was able to go back. He also went to a local vec worker and she wrote a letter to the social welfare helping him get the btea!

yeah well it was for medical reasons really, but i didnt seek help fully till about 6 months after i dropped out of college, so i dont know would my reason be considered 'valid' as i wasnt seeing a doctor during the college term....

steddyeddy

pppink wrote: »

yeah well it was for medical reasons really, but i didnt seek help fully till about 6 months after i dropped out of college, so i dont know would my reason be considered 'valid' as i wasnt seeing a doctor during the college term....

My mate left due to problems which he didn't report until he came back to college now. If it was medical reasons I would say there is a lot that can be done about it. I dont know where you're based but my mate went to a career guidance counselor and she told him exactly what to do. If that doesnt get success go to your local TD's clinic and they can actually be very helpful. Dont be afraid to tell people exactly what your experince was and why it wasn't your fault that you had to drop out of college.

pppink

steddyeddy wrote: »

My mate left due to problems which he didn't report until he came back to college now. If it was medical reasons I would say there is a lot that can be done about it. I dont know where you're based but my mate went to a career guidance counselor and she told him exactly what to do. If that doesnt get success go to your local TD's clinic and they can actually be very helpful. Dont be afraid to tell people exactly what your experince was and why it wasn't your fault that you had to drop out of college.

really? that sounds good then.... did your friend go back to finish his/her original course or start over a new degree? if i went back to my old course i would have to repeat a year as i failed a year which means my grades would be capped, screwing up my GPA.... but if i DO get extenuating circumstances (or whatevr it would be classified as) mabye its a different story???

just found this : "NOTE: students who change college / university for reasons of illness cannot claim eligibility for free fees in a different college / university. Free fees apply only if the student returns to the same college / university and the same programme. .." Department of Education & Skills stipulates that this concession, if granted, applies only where a student is returning to the same college and the same programme."

steddyeddy

pppink wrote: »

really? that sounds good then.... did your friend go back to finish his/her original course or start over a new degree? if i went back to my old course i would have to repeat a year as i failed a year which means my grades would be capped, screwing up my GPA.... but if i DO get extenuating circumstances (or whatevr it would be classified as) mabye its a different story???

just found this : "NOTE: students who change college / university for reasons of illness cannot claim eligibility for free fees in a different college / university. Free fees apply only if the student returns to the same college / university and the same programme. .." Department of Education & Skills stipulates that this concession, if granted, applies only where a student is returning to the same college and the same programme."

pppink he is doing a different course as are two other undergraduates in the course. As I say they dont say that they give leeway in the small print. You have to put your story forward and argue your case. Where are you based if you dont mind me asking? Im asking because I might know some local services in the area.

umop-apisdn

My husband has been on JB/JSA for the past year since being made redundant, and has been doing a part-time foundation course at NUIG since September 2012, which will give him direct access onto a degree course in September.
It now looks like this has been a massive waste of time as he will only be entitled to €30 per week on BTEA instead of the €188 we had anticipated. There is absolutely no way we can afford for him to go to uni now as we would have barely managed on the full rate as it is.
He's been asking everyone he can think of to see if there's anything we can do, but only solution offered so far is to apply for the maintenance grant. Even if he got the 100% amount, it's still €1,000's less that we just won't be able to find elsewhere.

Is anyone else in the same situation and found any solutions to the problem?

am292

emma3003 wrote: »

My husband has been on JB/JSA for the past year since being made redundant, and has been doing a part-time foundation course at NUIG since September 2012, which will give him direct access onto a degree course in September.
It now looks like this has been a massive waste of time as he will only be entitled to €30 per week on BTEA instead of the €188 we had anticipated. There is absolutely no way we can afford for him to go to uni now as we would have barely managed on the full rate as it is.
He's been asking everyone he can think of to see if there's anything we can do, but only solution offered so far is to apply for the maintenance grant. Even if he got the 100% amount, it's still €1,000's less that we just won't be able to find elsewhere.

Is anyone else in the same situation and found any solutions to the problem?

I am in a similar position, you may have seen previous comments on this thread-
Unfortunately I have not found any success in an alternative arrangement or a waiver for students who were getting a top up with a sister scheme (VTOS) in my case. I have been on to various TD's and it looks like the changes are going ahead. I would urge you to write to Joan Burton, just to explain your case and highlight the issue but my response was a letter that stated the changes will affect me. Tell your husband to look at Sprinboard courses, they run level 6,7,8 courses part time free of charge if you are unemployed. Good luck

bri007

I am out of work for over a year, i receive jobseekers allowance of 188. I am hoping to attend college this September, will I still be able to get the 188 on BTEA does anyone know? I was reading up on the welfare website, I think I am but just worried in case it was abolished in last budget.

Annasopra

bri007 wrote: »

I am out of work for over a year, i receive jobseekers allowance of 188. I am hoping to attend college this September, will I still be able to get the 188 on BTEA does anyone know? I was reading up on the welfare website, I think I am but just worried in case it was abolished in last budget.

Yes you can still get BTEA at 188 per week

umop-apisdn

Hi am292

Yes, I had seen your posts and wondered if you'd had any luck. Is uni no longer an option for you now?
We'll send the letters out, but not holding much hope.
I can't believe there isn't an exemption for people that have spent the last year doing access courses etc, with the intention of starting full-time education this year.

SamAK

After receiving Willy O Dea's '2013 Guide to Entitlements' leaflet in the post, I too feared for my future. The info mentions nothing about existing BTEA'ers.

I was on the scheme for academic year 12/13, and a 28 euro cut from 188 to 160 could well tip the balance for year two.

Thanks for clearing it up everyone!


P.S - May as well mention that given the state of affairs in this country and the endless doom and gloom rhetoric I have had to endure since completing the Leaving Cert in 09, i'm somewhat grateful to be able to continue my education four years later. Yes I could find a part-time job, but it'd have to be very convenient hours and a decent wage to afford rent and everything else. Plus, I get to focus on my studies, rather than spread myself too thin.

BTEA is certainly working for me!