BTEA cuts

danish pasterys

So there cutting the BTEA allowance, hitting the poor that are tryna better themselves anyway what im tryna find out is will it effect people already in the full 188 payment or just those on the 140 ?

coolhull

What's a BTEA allowance?

biko

If you search around the State Benefits forum you might find an existing thread there.
Actually, scratch that and have a gander at Student Finances.

shopaholic01

Back to education allowance for those tryna go back to college/uni.

Karl Stein

coolhull wrote: »

What's a BTEA allowance?

Battered sausages &
TEA

allowance

autumnbelle

danish pasterys wrote: »

So there cutting the BTEA allowance, hitting the poor that are tryna better themselves anyway what im tryna find out is will it effect people already in the full 188 payment or just those on the 140 ?

Where did you hear this? By much?

Karl Stein

tryna

..must... stay.. strong...

..not sure.. if... going.. to.. mange...

Artful_Badger

Cathal Cloch wrote: »

Battered sausages &
TEA

allowance

That was before they cut it. Now its HBTEA, Half a battered sausage and tea

fibonaccii

Its 160 for new applications, however existing students were fine. Unless things changed in the last month or two.

Just to add its for those on a age related job seeks cut. ie if you are under 22 its 100 and 22-25-140

NegativeCreep

If this is true, it's one of the most ridiculous cuts I've heard of!

shopaholic01

Cathal Cloch wrote: »

..must... stay.. strong...

..not sure.. if... going.. to.. mange...

Read the OP. :P

carzony

I only applied for BTEA today and I'v worked out that i'll be short of many as it is. You'd think they could find something else to cut. In other words sit around and do f.all and get more money lol..


Any links?

Fratton Fred

Cathal Cloch wrote: »

..must... stay.. strong...

..not sure.. if... going.. to.. mange...

I'm tryna stay strong too.

apollo8

Not surprised really they seem determined to leave a generation unemployable again.
Wish they would get their heads out of their arse and realise if anything will get us out of the current mess it's education.

Artful_Badger

From what I know anyway OP the cuts only matter to those not on full jobseekers. If your on 188 you get 188 on BTEA, if you're on the 140 or whatever you get 160 BTEA. And the 300 start of year book allowance has been scrapped.

danish pasterys

Yes folks its true and so fustrating it was bad enough i had to stay unemployed for 9 straight months to get my BTEA an now to find out its cut for new applicants from 188 - 160. Makes me so annoyed I just cant survive on that an they have there stupid under 25 rule.

NegativeCreep

Cathal Cloch wrote: »

..must... stay.. strong...

..not sure.. if... going.. to.. mange...

Not sure if I can mange either. Bit of a dodgy stomach.

C.K Dexter Haven

Cathal Cloch wrote: »

Battered sausages &
TEA

allowance

Can I swap for a spice burger on Wednesday's and a Fish finger on Fridays?

carzony

Artful_Badger wrote: »

From what I know anyway OP the cuts only matter to those not on full jobseekers. If your on 188 you get 188 on BTEA, if you're on the 140 or whatever you get 160 BTEA. And the 300 start of year book allowance has been scrapped.

Has been scrapped or will be scrapped?


I only get 100 dole so I'd get 160 BTEA?

Artful_Badger

carzony wrote: »

Has been scrapped or will be scrapped?


I only get 100 dole so I'd get 160 BTEA?

Has been scrapped. Yeah you'd get 160 on BTEA. As far as I know.

not yet

I'm tryna not to laugh..

carzony

Artful_Badger wrote: »

Has been scrapped. Yeah you'd get 160 on BTEA. As far as I know.

I really think their cutting the wrong allowances and very soon somthing has got to give. How can an average person live here anymore. Even people working are broke.

Esoteric_

I'd love to get BTEA, but I got a job after 2-3 months of unemployment. Now, the only reason I'm able to afford college is to go part time and my parents have offered to help pay for it.

I'd be in heaven if I could go to college, focus solely on college work, and get 160 euro.

For single people living at home with their parents, I don't see how that's too little tbh. For people renting, or with children, it's ridiculous to cut it because they're not going to survive on less money.

Lenin Skynard

Esoteric_ wrote: »

I'd love to get BTEA, but I got a job after 2-3 months of unemployment. Now, the only reason I'm able to afford college is to go part time and my parents have offered to help pay for it.

I'd be in heaven if I could go to college, focus solely on college work, and get 160 euro.

Surely it would have made an awful lot more sense to stay signing on for the six extra months.

Karl Stein

shopaholic01 wrote: »

Read the OP. :P

I know. Shure that's what I was on aboot.

Esoteric_

Lenin Skynard wrote: »

Surely it would have made an awful lot more sense to stay signing on for the six extra months.

Financially, yes, and it would also have left me with as much time as I need to study, instead of struggling to fit it in around work. Except to claim the dole, you need to be actively seeking work (unless you're planning to defraud the state by not seeking or accepting work). So, since I was seeking work, and was offered a job, I took it, otherwise I'd have been fraudulently claiming the dole. Plus, the thoughts of sitting on my hole for 9 months is depressing as fook.

Nidge_Weasel

danish pasterys wrote: »

Yes folks its true and so fustrating it was bad enough i had to stay unemployed for 9 straight months to get my BTEA an now to find out its cut for new applicants from 188 - 160. Makes me so annoyed I just cant survive on that an they have there stupid under 25 rule.

Ohhh, so you mean you could have gotten work if you "HAD TO" stay unemployed for your BTEA. Pretty sure you aren't allowed make sure you cant get a job on the welfare!

You're getting a great deal even if your money is being cut. I pay for my college education, as do a hell of a lot of others with a part time job that brings home less than that a week.

Social welfare system in this country is a joke!

Cutting back to education allowance is a retarded move.

shopaholic01

Cathal Cloch wrote: »

I know. Shure that's what I was on aboot.

In that case I hope your mange clears up.

Karl Stein

shopaholic01 wrote: »

In that case I hope your mange clears up.

Christ there's a fail. I'm going to leave that up there as self-punishment.

Aw man..

shopaholic01

Cathal Cloch wrote: »

Christ there's a fail. I'm going to leave that up there as self-punishment.

Aw man..

I quoted you anyway! :pac:

danish pasterys

Nidge_Weasel wrote: »

Ohhh, so you mean you could have gotten work if you "HAD TO" stay unemployed for your BTEA. Pretty sure you aren't allowed make sure you cant get a job on the welfare!

You're getting a great deal even if your money is being cut. I pay for my college education, as do a hell of a lot of others with a part time job that brings home less than that a week.

Social welfare system in this country is a joke!

Well the odd mickey mouse temp job i had to turn down obv i would not have turned down a permanant job, if you have to pay for your education obv you or your family have money otherwise you would quailify for the grant, you would think 160 is enough but not with bills rent and food and travel cost and a girl friend

Esoteric_

danish pasterys wrote: »

Well the odd mickey mouse temp job i had to turn down obv i would not have turned down a permanant job, if you have to pay for your education obv you or your family have money otherwise you would quailify for the grant, you would think 160 is enough but not with bills rent and food and travel cost and a girl friend

Why would you turn down a temp job? You're allowed sign off for a few weeks for temporary work. Temporary work can also lead to full time work, or can help you gain valuable contacts for future employment.

I have to pay for my education. I don't have money, and my family sure as hell don't have money. My dad earns just above the threshold for a grant, but pays the majority of his wages towards the mortgage, bills, food and school costs for my sisters. The only way I'm able to go to college is because my parents and I are both splitting the cost, because I've saved my arse off since I got my job in February.

Nidge_Weasel

danish pasterys wrote: »

Well the odd mickey mouse temp job i had to turn down obv i would not have turned down a permanant job, if you have to pay for your education obv you or your family have money otherwise you would quailify for the grant, you would think 160 is enough but not with bills rent and food and travel cost and a girl friend

Believe me, I do not come from a house that is cash rich.

Really hope you aren't studying English...

Actually scratch that, I do!

Karl Stein

shopaholic01 wrote: »

I quoted you anyway! :pac:

I deserve it.

danish pasterys

Esoteric_ wrote: »

Why would you turn down a temp job? You're allowed sign off for a few weeks for temporary work. Temporary work can also lead to full time work, or can help you gain valuable contacts for future employment.

I have to pay for my education. I don't have money, and my family sure as hell don't have money. My dad earns just above the threshold for a grant, but pays the majority of his wages towards the mortgage, bills, food and school costs for my sisters. The only way I'm able to go to college is because my parents and I are both splitting the cost, because I've saved my arse off since I got my job in February.

Fare play to you, i was under the impression not full time work atal it was just xmas work aswell i wasnt prepared to lose my btea for a few weeks work on a gamble of being kept on or not which seemed unlikely

Esoteric_

danish pasterys wrote: »

Fare play to you, i was under the impression not full time work atal it was just xmas work aswell i wasnt prepared to lose my btea for a few weeks work on a gamble of being kept on or not which seemed unlikely

Like I said, even if temp work doesn't lead to full time work, it can give you valuable experience or contacts. My younger sister did temp work last Christmas. She ended up being kept on for 5 months, and those 5 months of experience gave her enough experience to get a job with my own employer. If she didn't have that retail experience, she wouldn't be in full time employment now.

If you're being offered temp work, you're obviously employable. So look for a job and go to college part time rather than deliberately staying unemployed to get BTEA, which is exactly what you did by turning down work.

shopaholic01

danish pasterys wrote: »

Fare play to you, i was under the impression not full time work atal it was just xmas work aswell i wasnt prepared to lose my btea for a few weeks work on a gamble of being kept on or not which seemed unlikely

Would you not have qualified if you just did Christmas work? Jan - Sept = 9 months.

danish pasterys

Nidge_Weasel wrote: »

Believe me, I do not come from a house that is cash rich.

Really hope you aren't studying English...

Actually scratch that, I do!

Why do you hope im studying english ? Because i try abbreiviate and shorting my words as much as i can to save time. All you spelling grammer natzis need to get laid hahahah

Annasopra

Once you are on a payment for 9 months you qualify for BTEA. It doesn't matter if there are short periods of employment in between.

Nidge_Weasel

danish pasterys wrote: »

Why do you hope im studying english ? Because i try abbreiviate and shorting my words as much as i can to save time. All you spelling grammer natzis need to get laid hahahah

You've managed to mention the fact you have a girlfriend / get laid twice now in only a few posts.

You know what they say about the man who speaks about it the most...

danish pasterys

shopaholic01 wrote: »

Would you not have qualified if you just did Christmas work? Jan - Sept = 9 months.

Not if the work went into jan, you see there very strict about there rules

Lenin Skynard

Some very black and white views being put forward here. If the guy needs so sign on for a few months more to get his education paid for then go for it. It would be plain stupid to throw that away by taking up a job flipping burgers over fear of stumbling slightly over the lines of unemployment payment terms and conditions. If he went to his CWO or whatever, they'd probably tell him to keep signing on too.

He has a much better chance of doing well in his degree if he's not up all night stacking shelves when he could be studying. Sometimes common sense is much more useful than blind loyalty to the state.

danish pasterys

mango salsa wrote: »

Once you are on a payment for 9 months you qualify for BTEA. It doesn't matter if there are short periods of employment in between.

9 consecutive months of being on jobseekers allowance. No gaps of employment allowed is what the btea officer told me right before i went on a rant

danish pasterys

Lenin Skynard wrote: »

Some very black and white views being put forward here. If the guy needs so sign on for a few months more to get his education paid for then go for it. It would be plain stupid to throw that away by taking up a job flipping burgers over fear of stumbling slightly over the lines of unemployment payment terms and conditions. If he went to his CWO or whatever, they'd probably tell him to keep signing on too.

He has a much better chance of doing well in his degree if he's not up all night stacking shelves when he could be studying. Sometimes common sense is much more useful than blind loyalty to the state.

Thank you

rawn

shopaholic01 wrote: »

Would you not have qualified if you just did Christmas work? Jan - Sept = 9 months.

IIRC Christmas work is usually from end of November/start of December til the start of February. In retail it is anyways, may be different for other places. Then you have to be on JA for minimum 234 days to apply for BTEA, no exceptions. They're really strict about it, friend of mine was 10 days short and was refused BTEA.

Artful_Badger

Esoteric_ wrote: »

So look for a job and go to college part time rather than deliberately staying unemployed to get BTEA, which is exactly what you did by turning down work.

Ignore this bullshít OP, do what you're doing, get your BTEA and go to college. Dont listen to people who tell you it matters a shít what you tell the welfare because I can assure there are thousands on it taking it for everything they can and will do as a career. If you're getting what you need to get an education so you dont end up on welfare or returning to it in the long term then you're doing the right thing.

Nidge_Weasel

Lenin Skynard wrote: »

Some very black and white views being put forward here. If the guy needs so sign on for a few months more to get his education paid for then go for it. It would be plain stupid to throw that away by taking up a job flipping burgers over fear of stumbling slightly over the lines of unemployment payment terms and conditions. If he went to his CWO or whatever, they'd probably tell him to keep signing on too.

He has a much better chance of doing well in his degree if he's not up all night stacking shelves when he could be studying. Sometimes common sense is much more useful than blind loyalty to the state.

I wouldn't call it blind loyalty to the state though. Its more the fact that you can stand back and say, yes you put in the effort for the few years of your studies and its something you can be proud of.

As a side note, I have to say, I've noticed that those who work alongside studying generally get much higher grades than those who are on benefits and the likes while in college, a lot (Let me emphasize though, not all.) seem to stay on easy street and scrape by or fail.

It seems it (working) makes people more disciplined, or maybe its the fact that you now only have so many hours to do your studies that you stick the head straight down instead of putting it of because of the fact you have all the time in the world outside of lectures to start on those assignments, reading, etc.

rawn

Nidge_Weasel wrote: »

I wouldn't call it blind loyalty to the state though. Its more the fact that you can stand back and say, yes you put in the effort for the few years of your studies and its something you can be proud of.

As a side note, I have to say, I've noticed that those who work alongside studying generally get much higher grades than those who are on benefits and the likes while in college, a lot (Let me emphasize though, not all.) seem to stay on easy street and scrape by or fail.

It seems it (working) makes people more disciplined, or maybe its the fact that you now only have so many hours to do your studies that you stick the head straight down instead of putting it of because of the fact you have all the time in the world outside of lectures to start on those assignments, reading, etc.

Nope. BTEA all the way. All those guys who worked their way through college would have jumped at the chance to NOT have to work through college. The BTEA (even if it's reduced) is a fantastic opportunity to really be able to put 100% into your assignments and studies. Now, if someone is on BTEA and not using the free time to study then imagine how little studying they would have done if they were working part time! Really just depends on the person's determination to succeed, I guess.

Nidge_Weasel

rawn wrote: »

Nope. BTEA all the way. All those guys who worked their way through college would have jumped at the chance to NOT have to work through college. The BTEA (even if it's reduced) is a fantastic opportunity to really be able to put 100% into your assignments and studies. Now, if someone is on BTEA and not using the free time to study then imagine how little studying they would have done if they were working part time! Really just depends on the person's determination to succeed, I guess.

I have to say I really disagree, I took two weeks off once coming up to exam time. Jesus I did nothing some days! Did some study and somehow (really don't know how!) got decent grades (Just scraped into 1.1 territory). But honest to Christ, I honestly think I did less those two weeks than if I were to have been working 20-ish hours a week!

Sparks43

The reduction only applies to the people who are only getting the age reduced rate on the JA

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)

Gave me a bit of a fright there as im back on BTEA in a couple of weeks for my last year in College