College?

carzony

I have been signing on for just over 2 years now and I have decided that I might just bite the bullet and go to college (mainly just to kill a few years and hope that things pick up) I was wondering would I be entitled to anything from the SW? As in funding? I mean a good few mates are getting paid to do courses in fas so surely that have funding available for college education?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

mp22

Start here http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/back_to_education/back_to_education_allowance.html

carzony

mp22 wrote: »

Start here http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/back_to_education/back_to_education_allowance.html

ted1

Look up spring board courses in DIT

bhamsteve

Good plan OP. You could do a FAS course and get the equivalent of the dole plus a small bit for travel and lunch. Alternatively you could go to college and apply for BTEA. From personal experience the Social Welfare are very helpful.
There is also the option of doing a 3rd level degree although you are too late to apply for this September.
If you pass the means test all college fees will be covered too.
If there's anything you always fancied doing then now is the time, and aim high.
I did a FAS course last year and studying degree now, so if you have any specific questions I might be able to answer them. You can contact your local VEC for advice on course options.
Good luck.

mp22

Please stay on topic,this forum is for helpful advice not pointed questions!!!


mp22

knotknowbody

Visit http://www.springboardcourses.ie/

This is an initiative for unemployed people it aims to get them into education or training that is relevant to areas where there is a skills shortage.

It is effectively free college courses for the unemployed, the classes are usually in the evening time so if you get a job you can still continue the course. Attending a course does not affect you job-seekers payment, the application procedure will be opening soon for the courses starting in September, many of the courses are based on full time courses and cover the same material.

There are courses available in most of the third level institutions so you should be able to find one of interest near to you.

StillWaters

The next lot of Springboard courses will be launched at the end of May.

carzony

Would anyone kow if my money would increase? I'm only entitled to 100 atm :^( Obviousally i'd need extra funds for college life I suppose you could say lol

bhamsteve

Last year when I was doing the FAS course, everybody received the over 25s dole rate (€188 for a single person), regardless of their age. FAS course training allowance.
To claim BTEA you must be over 21, (24 for a degree) or be out of formal education for 2 years. From what I can see they now only pay the equivalent rate that you were receiving on JSA. BTEA info; eligibility, rates of pay etc

Balagan

carzony wrote: »

Would anyone kow if my money would increase? I'm only entitled to 100 atm :^( Obviousally i'd need extra funds for college life I suppose you could say lol

The very first reply you received to your post contained a link and within that link is the following information:

Budget 2013
The Cost of Education Allowance (currently €300) payable to Back to Education Allowance participants will be discontinued for new and existing participants. (2013)
The weekly rate payable to new Back to Education Allowance participants will be equal to their previous social protection payment. (1 January 2013)
A standard maximum rate of €160 per week will apply to new Back to Education Allowance participants who were previously getting an age-related reduced rate of Jobseeker's Allowance. (1 January 2013)
Note: The weekly rate paid to participants on the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS), Youthreach and FÁS further education and training programmes who move from jobseeker’s payments will also be matched to their previous social welfare payment. However, people under 25 who were getting an age-related reduced rate of Jobseeker’s Allowance will get a standard maximum rate of €160 per week.http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/back_to_education/back_to_education_allowance.html

Also to be noted from this that since January 2013, Fas payments for under 25s on age-reduced payments now stand at €160, no longer upped to €188.00