BTEA?

Cassidy1992

Hi all, I am 21 years old and have been in reciept of job seekers allowance for nearly a year now. I have applied for a pre nursing course and I am wondering how i go about applying for BTEA? As I would be changing counties if I get accepted do I apply in Galway (where I live now) or Carlow ( where I will be doing the course).

And on the form for BTEA it asks for address would I give my home address as I don't have an address in Carlow yet? And would my BTEA payments start as soon as my job seekers allowance stops?

Thanks for any help as I am quite confused!

wesf

Cassidy1992 wrote: »

Hi all, I am 21 years old and have been in reciept of job seekers allowance for nearly a year now. I have applied for a pre nursing course and I am wondering how i go about applying for BTEA? As I would be changing counties if I get accepted do I apply in Galway (where I live now) or Carlow ( where I will be doing the course).

And on the form for BTEA it asks for address would I give my home address as I don't have an address in Carlow yet? And would my BTEA payments start as soon as my job seekers allowance stops?

Thanks for any help as I am quite confused!

give your home address and get an application from your local social office. hand that back into them when its filled in and you will need a letter from the college saying you are registered. you can hand in the application on its own first to get the ball rolling.
do this asap, apps must be made more than 30 days from your course start date unless you have a good reason for being late.
so if i were you i'd get the form and hand it back tomorrow. 5 mins will fill it in.
there won't be a gap in payment

Cassidy1992

wesf wrote: »

give your home address and get an application from your local social office. hand that back into them when its filled in and you will need a letter from the college saying you are registered. you can hand in the application on its own first to get the ball rolling.
do this asap, apps must be made more than 30 days from your course start date unless you have a good reason for being late.
so if i were you i'd get the form and hand it back tomorrow. 5 mins will fill it in.
there won't be a gap in payment

Thank you i'll do that tomorrow, and as soon as I am accepted do I just hand it the confirmation letter on it's own or should they send me a letter about it?..thanks again

wesf

once you have accepted your place you must go and register on registration day. after that the college will issue a letter to say you are registered, ask about it on the day. photocopy it and hand it into your local social with your pps number on it.
sorted

bri007

Can you still collect your jobseekers payment right up until you get the btea?

wesf wrote: »

once you have accepted your place you must go and register on registration day. after that the college will issue a letter to say you are registered, ask about it on the day. photocopy it and hand it into your local social with your pps number on it.
sorted

wesf

bri007 wrote: »

Can you still collect your jobseekers payment right up until you get the btea?

yep, you won't notice any crossover, unless you collect in the post office now and you opt for payment to your bank account for btea. the only real difference is you don't have to sign on each month

bri007

Thanks Yeah I collect jobseekers in post office at the moment, I gave my bank details on the btea form. I handed it in the end of june, heard nothing since

wesf

no prob, yeh you won't hear anything until after you hand in that reg letter. after that the social will write out to you confirming you will receive btea (once you qualify) and it will give details of when the payment will be in the bank.
best part is they should leave your payment going into the bank during summer periods so no more standing in line at the post office

mattjack

Sorry for interupting ,I just have a quick question , is BTEA the same amount as Jobseekers Benifit ?
Thanks in advance.

wesf

mattjack wrote: »

Sorry for interupting ,I just have a quick question , is BTEA the same amount as Jobseekers Benifit ?
Thanks in advance.

it depends, whatever you get now will be what you get for btea but some people with kids etc may get more.
i know a girl with a son and she gets 220 or something like that.

Annasopra

mattjack wrote: »

Sorry for interupting ,I just have a quick question , is BTEA the same amount as Jobseekers Benifit ?
Thanks in advance.

Not always it depends

mattjack

mattjack wrote: »

Sorry for interupting ,I just have a quick question , is BTEA the same amount as Jobseekers Benifit ?
Thanks in advance.

Whatever you're getting on JA, you'll get on BTEA.

Cassidy1992

Cassidy1992 wrote: »

Hi all, I am 21 years old and have been in reciept of job seekers allowance for nearly a year now. I have applied for a pre nursing course and I am wondering how i go about applying for BTEA? As I would be changing counties if I get accepted do I apply in Galway (where I live now) or Carlow ( where I will be doing the course).

And on the form for BTEA it asks for address would I give my home address as I don't have an address in Carlow yet? And would my BTEA payments start as soon as my job seekers allowance stops?

Thanks for any help as I am quite confused!

You have to be claiming for 52 weeks, so you may not be eligible. Did you ask your local DSP Office if you were? or did you just fill in the forms?

miss misty

You don't get your BTEA paid into you bank account during the summer holidays, you revert back to job seekers allowance and have to go back to collecting from post office. thats how I have to collect it.

wesf

miss misty wrote: »

You don't get your BTEA paid into you bank account during the summer holidays, you revert back to job seekers allowance and have to go back to collecting from post office. thats how I have to collect it.

It's at the discretion of the welfare office. My summer jobseekers payment has been paid into my bank last summer and this one. I haven't had to go to the post office since sep 2011.

paperclip2

mattjack wrote: »

Sorry for interupting ,I just have a quick question , is BTEA the same amount as Jobseekers Benifit ?
Thanks in advance.

If you are under 25 and getting a reduced rate of Jobseekers you may be increased to a max of €160 per week. If you are over 25 you will stay on whatever rate of payment you are on now.

paperclip2

Deleted User wrote: »

You have to be claiming for 52 weeks, so you may not be eligible. Did you ask your local DSP Office if you were? or did you just fill in the forms?

For a pre-nursing course at Fetac level 5/6 you need 78 claiming days, not counting Sundays to be eligible for BTEA. For a third level college/ uni course you need to be signing for a minimum of 234 days.
Details on welfare.ie: http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Back-to-Education-Allowance-Scheme.aspx
Section 1.9.

Bicky11

Hi I am 23 years old since march and have been on job seekers allowance for 5 months but was on disability for 11 months prior to receiving job seekers.. And I applied last Friday to go back to college to do a fetac level 5 course does anybody know if I will be entitled to receive btea?

peterc1991

Deleted User wrote: »

You have to be claiming for 52 weeks, so you may not be eligible. Did you ask your local DSP Office if you were? or did you just fill in the forms?

I have got a letter saying that I am provisionally accepted and it wants me to give them a letter from the college stating that I am registered.

But my only problem is that I do not want to register if I cannot get BTEA so if I register and they tell me I cannot get it then I have to pay a fee and go to college yet I cant afford it as I will be taken off the dole.

So does provisonally accepted mean that I will get it once I show I am registered or can they not accept me and leave me hanging.

I basically am not going to college unless I get BTEA so I need assurance when registering that I will get BTEA.

By them saying I have been provionally accepted does this mean I should go ahead as I am eligible but just need prove or registration?(just incase I am not going to college).

wesf

Go ahead.

Annasopra

Bicky11 wrote: »

Hi I am 23 years old since march and have been on job seekers allowance for 5 months but was on disability for 11 months prior to receiving job seekers.. And I applied last Friday to go back to college to do a fetac level 5 course does anybody know if I will be entitled to receive btea?

Based on the disability/jobseekers you should be eligible

Annasopra

They can't fully accept you until you register

Bicky11

Thanks. Can I apply for btea before my place is confirmed because unless I recieve btea I won't be able to attend

SamAK

Bicky11 wrote: »

Thanks. Can I apply for btea before my place is confirmed because unless I recieve btea I won't be able to attend

Yes. Apply even if you don't have a place. After your place is confirmed you get a confirmation letter that you need to give a copy of to the DSP, so they know you're definitely going to college.

SamAK

My PLC course requires a 450 euro fee. I am exempt from 250 of this because I have a medical card, but I am unsure if I have to pay the 200 euro registration fee or can it be covered under the BTEA scheme? I applied to SUSI but was told I am not eligible for a maintenance grant, there was no mention of course fees being covered....?

I wouldn't mind paying it, seeing as i'm already getting a discount, but at the moment it's a toss up between paying for accommodation or paying the registration before the deadline next week! Argh!

Bicky11

Thanks I had an interview today and got my place thank god.. I'm now filling out my btea application form.. Does anyone know how long it will take to process?

Artful_Badger

This year I registered online, what way does that work for the BTEA ? Can I give them a print out of my online registration or do I need a signed document from the college to verify it ?

Maldesu

Bicky11 wrote: »

Thanks I had an interview today and got my place thank god.. I'm now filling out my btea application form.. Does anyone know how long it will take to process?

It can vary depending on the office you are with, but most of them are processed in the next few weeks in preparation for the college year. The sooner you get the form in the better.

Artful_Badger wrote: »

This year I registered online, what way does that work for the BTEA ? Can I give them a print out of my online registration or do I need a signed document from the college to verify it ?

You will need to get a proof of attendance from your college before BTEA will start paying you. Talk to the registry office or the student support service.

Annasopra

SamAK wrote: »

My PLC course requires a 450 euro fee. I am exempt from 250 of this because I have a medical card, but I am unsure if I have to pay the 200 euro registration fee or can it be covered under the BTEA scheme? I applied to SUSI but was told I am not eligible for a maintenance grant, there was no mention of course fees being covered....?

I wouldn't mind paying it, seeing as i'm already getting a discount, but at the moment it's a toss up between paying for accommodation or paying the registration before the deadline next week! Argh!

It's not covered by BTEA or SUSI

Bicky11

I have my btea application form filled out but I'm not sure what to do about paying my registration fees because if I don't get btea I won't be able to attend college because I am heavily reliant on my social welfare. As I said above I turned 23 this year and iv been on job seekers benefit for 5 months but iv been on disability for 11 months before that but I think you have to be on job seekers for at least 6 months. I may be eligible but I'm not sure weather to take the chance because my fees have to be paid next week

SamAK

Bicky11 wrote: »

I have my btea application form filled out but I'm not sure what to do about paying my registration fees because if I don't get btea I won't be able to attend college because I am heavily reliant on my social welfare. As I said above I turned 23 this year and iv been on job seekers benefit for 5 months but iv been on disability for 11 months before that but I think you have to be on job seekers for at least 6 months. I may be eligible but I'm not sure weather to take the chance because my fees have to be paid next week

Disability allowance is counted, between your five months on JSB and your time on disability, you should definitely be eligible. There are a number of payments that count towards the 234 day total, including -

Jobseeker's Allowance or Jobseeker's Benefit
Farm Assist
One-Parent Family Payment
Deserted Wife's Benefit or Allowance
Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension
Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Contributory) Pension
Prisoners Wife's Allowance
Carer's Allowance
Blind Pension
Disability Allowance
Invalidity Pension
Incapacity Supplement

Time spent in prison counts towards the 234 day rule! So yes, i'd say you're quite eligible. You'll only get a max rate of 160 euro a week though, and no 300 euro bonus at the start of the year. I got that last year but they did away with it in the last budget Such a shame, because i'm feeling the squeeze, trying to pay for a flat AND my registration fee....oh well i'll manage

P.S - Bicky, do you have a medical card?

SamAK

peterc1991 wrote: »

I have got a letter saying that I am provisionally accepted and it wants me to give them a letter from the college stating that I am registered.

But my only problem is that I do not want to register if I cannot get BTEA so if I register and they tell me I cannot get it then I have to pay a fee and go to college yet I cant afford it as I will be taken off the dole.

So does provisonally accepted mean that I will get it once I show I am registered or can they not accept me and leave me hanging.

I basically am not going to college unless I get BTEA so I need assurance when registering that I will get BTEA.

By them saying I have been provionally accepted does this mean I should go ahead as I am eligible but just need prove or registration?(just incase I am not going to college).

Go for it! Provisional approval is as good as approved, I was in the same situation last year. They just need a letter from the college proving that you are registered and legitimately starting a course!

Don't worry if the college is slow getting the letter to you, apparently it's the same every year, we didn't get our registration letters until first day of class!

Best of luck and have fun at school

Bicky11

Thanks for the help SamAk

peterc1991

SamAK wrote: »

Go for it! Provisional approval is as good as approved, I was in the same situation last year. They just need a letter from the college proving that you are registered and legitimately starting a course!

Don't worry if the college is slow getting the letter to you, apparently it's the same every year, we didn't get our registration letters until first day of class!

Best of luck and have fun at school

Thanks a million.

Was just worried but thanks for clearing it up. I have to wait another 2 weeks to register as I have to wait for registration form in the post because I am repeating So I wont be getting my money for a good while

Should I just keep going and collecting my social welfar untill I am told not to? Even though college is starting next week but I am not officialy registered for another 2 weeks.

scullersky

Im going intio the second year of my course having got BTEA last year... This year will I get 188 as I am not a new applicant as such or will I be dropped to 160 per week ?

Annasopra

Tommy-Kerry wrote: »

Im going intio the second year of my course having got BTEA last year... This year will I get 188 as I am not a new applicant as such or will I be dropped to 160 per week ?

You will get 188

SamAK

Tommy-Kerry wrote: »

Im going intio the second year of my course having got BTEA last year... This year will I get 188 as I am not a new applicant as such or will I be dropped to 160 per week ?

The 160 max rate only affects new applicants. But they discontinued the 300 euro payment they used to give at the start of the year for books, materials etc, so you won't get that like last year.

SamAK

peterc1991 wrote: »

Should I just keep going and collecting my social welfar untill I am told not to? Even though college is starting next week but I am not officialy registered for another 2 weeks.

When I got the BTEA provisional approval letter , it stated that my Jobseekers payment would stop at the end of October, so I assume I have until then to get proof of registration from the college, so my payment can be switched to my bank account, without any delays or gaps in pay..

Did you give a college starting date on the BTEA application form?

Bicky11

Hi it's me again. I need some more advice.. I'm getting job seekers benefit and I am starting college on Monday and I have applied for btea and have paid my college fees. Do I sign off my social welfare or keep collecting my jsb until I get a letter stating if I get approved for btea