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College fee's waived due to medical card

  • 29-01-2013 11:00pm
    #1
    Toast4532
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,613 ✭✭✭


    Hi all,

    I was looking to go to college this September and was told that because I have a medical card that any college fee's would be waived, is this true? I have looked online but I am getting confused by all the information out there.

    I have looked at the once off college grant (from council) and while it would cover my fee's, I wouldn't have any money to live on weekly and the B.T.E.A, while there is a €300 grant, it obviously wouldn't cover my college fee's, and I have no other way of affording college.


Comments

  • #2
    wmpdd3
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,626 ✭✭✭wmpdd3


    If you are getting JSA, you could apply for BTEA, basically you keep your €188 (or whatever) every week.
    The €300 is no longer paid.

    You can apply to the VEC or SUSI for the fees to be paid, there is probably a better chance of you being awarded this if you have a medical card due to your income but it is certainly not a given.


  • #3
    ShaShaBear
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,528 ✭✭✭ShaShaBear


    If you're on Jobseekers Allowance, you can apply for the fees part of the maintenance grant to cover your fees, and get BTEA (depending on the time you've been on JA, age, the type and level of course, etc) weekly to help you out. Generally if you are entitled to a medical card, your assessed earnings will be low enough to leave you entitled to the grant


  • #4
    Toast4532
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,613 ✭✭✭Toast4532


    Thanks.

    Currently I am doing a FETAC level 5 through FÁS and if I don't have paid employment when my course ends then I was hoping for college.

    When I was unemployed before going through FÁS I was getting €100 per week from the Social Welfare and if I don't get paid employment after this course, then I will go back to getting €100.


  • #5
    ShaShaBear
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,528 ✭✭✭ShaShaBear


    Toast4532 wrote: »
    Thanks.

    Currently I am doing a FETAC level 5 through FÁS and if I don't have paid employment when my course ends then I was hoping for college.

    When I was unemployed before going through FÁS I was getting €100 per week from the Social Welfare and if I don't get paid employment after this course, then I will go back to getting €100.

    If you want BTEA, the college course you choose will HAVE to be a progression on the one you're doing now, ie it cannot be another FETAC level 5 or lower, but can be in any area. You need to be at least 21 (or between 18 and 20 and out of education for two years) to apply, and since you must be under 25 judging by your JA rate, you cannot get more than €160 weekly on BTEA, and you have to sign back onto JA during the Summer.


  • #6
    Doop
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,485 ✭✭✭Doop


    another point with regards BETA is you need to be on the dole, (full time so to speak) for 8 months to do a level 8 degree and (im guessing this one) but i think its 6 months if you want to do a level 7. If you're currently doing a level 5 now then you wont build up enough time on the dole over the summer (assuming you go on it for the 3 months over the summer)


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