Job seekers allowance on year off college

Maybe_Memories

Basically I've been forced to take a year off college and have to repeat my exams at the end May 2014. Between now and then I'm not a student of the college and am unemployed and not living at home. Can I claim anything?

Balagan

You can apply for a Jobseekers payment:

(f) Third level examination only student :

It is considered inappropriate to disqualify students who are only registered to sit examinations (i.e. are not attending an Institution of education). These are mostly repeat year students registered for examinations only but also include persons studying at night and those following Open University courses. Such persons are not disqualified for receipt of JA under Section 148 of the Social Welfare Act 2006. However, these students must continue to satisfy the availability/ GSW conditions.
http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Jobseekers-Allowance.aspx

hdowney

That is interesting. I woulda thought they didn't qualify. Thanks for that information

ShaShaBear

hdowney wrote: »

That is interesting. I woulda thought they didn't qualify. Thanks for that information

I received Jobseekers Allowance without any difficulty when I was forced to take a semester off. I failed one exam from the second semester of last second year, and got JA from June until January when I registered for the second semester. They then placed me on the Part-Time Back to Education Initiative (which is exactly the same as JA, except they allow you in exceptional circumstances to attend a college part-time). I'm back on JA now until September when I start 3rd year (when I will be changed to BTEA), so you should have no difficulty.

Maybe_Memories

ShaShaBear wrote: »

I received Jobseekers Allowance without any difficulty when I was forced to take a semester off. I failed one exam from the second semester of last second year, and got JA from June until January when I registered for the second semester. They then placed me on the Part-Time Back to Education Initiative (which is exactly the same as JA, except they allow you in exceptional circumstances to attend a college part-time). I'm back on JA now until September when I start 3rd year (when I will be changed to BTEA), so you should have no difficulty.

Do you have to get a letter or something from the college stating that you're off for the year and are repeating exams only?

Ericaa

Maybe_Memories wrote: »

Do you have to get a letter or something from the college stating that you're off for the year and are repeating exams only?

My partner took a year out of college too, he had to bring a letter from college to the SW, stating that he wasn't going for the year.

I don't know if the same applies to you, since you have exams lined up, but, I don't see why it wouldn't!

Maybe_Memories

I was in with Social Welfare today and she said that even though I'm a repeat year student registered for exams, and not actually attending college, I wont qualify, even though the online requirements say that I'm not disqualified.

Any info? She said I had to be a mature student, then went to talk to someone and said it was a grey area and they're unsure of weather or not I qualify.

eastbono

Make your application for jobseekers. Provide a letter from the college stating that you are only registered for exams. Get a formal disallowance or disqualification...whichever will be applied and appeal the situation. Do not accept a verbal no.

Maybe_Memories

Also, they said they want details of all college grants obtained in the last 18 months. Does anyone know what this is? Do I just need basically a receipt stating how much I got and when I got it?