Springboard course-social welfare payment!!!

skippy1989

Im unemployed and I have just been accepted on a springboard course. I was receiving my stamps but they finished a month ago, I am waiting for my claim for social welfare payment to be processed. At the time I applied for the social welfare payment I was living at home and my parents income had massively reduced my chances of getting the full social welfare payment as im under 25.

But now with the new course I will be undertaking in the next week or 2 I should get the full social welfare payment as I have to move out of home. I would have to move to Limerick for the course. As I would be coming home for the weekends it would suit me better to pick up my social welfare payment in my local post office, or do I have pick up my social welfare in Limerick and put in a claim with them instead of my own counties social welfare office???

Or can u get your social welfare payment in to your bank account?

Thanks

hdowney

You can get the payment into your bank account (I just got accepted for a Springboard course myself and was over with the social filling in the required forms). However two things to bear in mind. 1, moving out of home will NOT increase your payment in so far as you are under 25 and therefore get a reduced level of JA, however if your JA was further reduced (from the maximum for your age) by means testing your parents you will go up to the maximum level for your age (I don't know what that is offhand). 2, you still have to sign on every month in your home dole office.

Noisin

Maybe someone can advise me.
My boyfriend is starting a spring board course and is getting job seekers allowance, the payment while on the springboard course when it starts.
We are planning on getting married next year as we are both getting on and I don't want to post pone it much longer.
Next year he hopes to be working or doing another spring board course.
I am working myself, will he lose his job seekers payment. I understand it is assessed on my income also and it seems if I earn more than €350 a week he will get significantly less money or none at all. Yes I am earning a lot more than €350 a week. However just wondering can other couple please let me know what their experience is. I have tried to find out on the internet but it does seem to be case specific mean test that is carried out.

eastbono

If you earn more than €581 pw approx after prsi is deducted he will be deemed means in excess and will receive nothing. Thats assuming you are working 3 days or more.

Also any capital that you may have >€20,000 will also be assessed along with any property that you may own other than your ppr.

If you earn €373 approx or less after prsi then it will not affect his prsi... assuming there isnt any capital or another property etc.

Noisin

Thanks Eastbono, Could you explain what you mean
'If you earn €373 approx or less after prsi then it will not affect his prsi... assuming there isn't any capital or another property etc.' what do you mean it will not affect his PRSI. Yip I work 5 days and Yes it would exceed €581. Yip I own Property. So basically we would be assessed and he would get nothing??
Would he is entitled to the Back to education allowance if he continues onto Masters (Level 9) after the Higher Diploma (Level 8)!!! He is on a springboard course starting soon. He was on the BTEA last year where he started 1st yearof a 4 year degree course, however is transferring onto this Higher diploma to get a Level 8 in a year as he already has an old degree from the good old days in college.
Are the spring board courses means tested if married. Is the Back to education allowance means tested if married. These are 2 separate entitlements. Correct me if i'm wrong.As he got the BTEA last year it seems he is getting it for this Spring board course. I'm not sure if all Springboard applicants get Job seekers allowance of if the get the BTEA, I think there is a difference. So basically if we got married next year (nothing planned, but college plans are preventing us) would that mean he would not be eligible for a springboard course. He would have to go private and pay fees and get no BTEA or job seekers. Planning a wedding is so ROMANTIC!!!
Could anyone please advise me better or let me know of their experience where one person is working and one person is trying to retrain in college if a married couple. Thanks for any enlightenment!!!

eastbono

Noisin wrote: »

Thanks Eastbono, Could you explain what you mean
'If you earn €373 approx or less after prsi then it will not affect his prsi... assuming there isn't any capital or another property etc.' what do you mean it will not affect his PRSI. Yip I work 5 days and Yes it would exceed €581. Yip I own Property. So basically we would be assessed and he would get nothing??
Would he is entitled to the Back to education allowance if he continues onto Masters (Level 9) after the Higher Diploma (Level 8)!!! He is on a springboard course starting soon. He was on the BTEA last year where he started 1st yearof a 4 year degree course, however is transferring onto this Higher diploma to get a Level 8 in a year as he already has an old degree from the good old days in college.
Are the spring board courses means tested if married. Is the Back to education allowance means tested if married. These are 2 separate entitlements. Correct me if i'm wrong.As he got the BTEA last year it seems he is getting it for this Spring board course. I'm not sure if all Springboard applicants get Job seekers allowance of if the get the BTEA, I think there is a difference. So basically if we got married next year (nothing planned, but college plans are preventing us) would that mean he would not be eligible for a springboard course. He would have to go private and pay fees and get no BTEA or job seekers. Planning a wedding is so ROMANTIC!!!
Could anyone please advise me better or let me know of their experience where one person is working and one person is trying to retrain in college if a married couple. Thanks for any enlightenment!!!

First off a full time Masters is not covered under BTEA. With springboard people on jsa have to fill out a btea form as springboard is a part time education option.
All these categories BTEA and Springboard are dependant on the time you are on jsa. BTEA is dependent on the level of education that you have attained to date as I already said a Masters is not covered the only post grad thats covered is H.DIp in education (old name for it).

From what you said of your income he would be deemed means in excess for jobseekers allowance so therefore as he would not qualify for a sw payment he would not be able to appy for btea, springboard etc. He could of course apply for a college grant which is also means tested.

I hope I have covered everything.

It was a typo not affecting his prsi... i meant not affecting his jsa.

With regard to planning a wedding being romantic.... on a personal note... it should be... but if financial matters come into it and you are not in a position to financially support a partner then you should perhaps got to PI and get some advice there on this part of you question.

Noisin

Masters courses are on the Springboard list. There is one in Computers in Blanchardstown IT
MSc in Computing (Information Security & Digital Forensics stream)

Institute of Technology Blanchardstown (BN518) .
This is a Masters offered on a Spring board courses.
So it is possible to get some form of Job Seekers and do a Masters. Ok it mightn't be BTEA but its some form of Job Seekers Payment.
Thanks for the advice, you seem like you know your stuff on this topic. My comments on planning a wedding being romantic well I was making a joke.... Im just doing my research into this now. Sooner rather than later. Thanks

eastbono

Noisin wrote: »

Masters courses are on the Springboard list. There is one in Computers in Blanchardstown IT
MSc in Computing (Information Security & Digital Forensics stream)

Institute of Technology Blanchardstown (BN518) .
This is a Masters offered on a Spring board courses.
So it is possible to get some form of Job Seekers and do a Masters. Ok it mightn't be BTEA but its some form of Job Seekers Payment.
Thanks for the advice, you seem like you know your stuff on this topic. My comments on planning a wedding being romantic well I was making a joke.... Im just doing my research into this now. Sooner rather than later. Thanks[/QUOT

I will check out this for you with regard to Springboard and Masters just to be sure to be sure and get back to you tomorrow if thats ok.

eastbono

Hi Noisin

I checked this out and once the course is partime springboard then it will be ok. If its full time then ne is in the realms of full BTEA and will not qualify.

Noisin

Well Eastbono, you seem to know your stuff but the Blanchardstown IT offer that course I mentioned Part time over 2 years or one year Full time. I actually got in touch with a person through Boards.ie different thread who was on the one year full time masters course through Springboard or so I thought I could well be mistaken but I did think they were doing it full time. Well I spoke to the person and that was my understanding it was full time. Anyways Ive been on Blanchardstown Website and it seems the Springboard Masters MSc in Computing (Information Security & Digital Forensics stream)
Institute of Technology Blanchardstown (BN518) is part time. But the college does run it full time and part time on a private fee basis. So is it possible to do a masters full time under any scheme offered under Job Seekers benefit? Could a person apply for the VEC grant for a Masters and be means tested? Or is applying for a Masters a No NO. The reason I intend doing a masters is to Specialize, as the course im doing is broad ranging. Any feedback appreciated.....

eastbono

A Masters is not covered under BTEA... I double checked today with my expert source on BTEA and what I was told was that if the course was part time on springboard then its covered. Also in addition if a person does a Masters on a part time basis... i.e. night time then their jobseekers will continue (obviously if still meeting criteria) as they are still available and looking for full time work.

I can only convey to you the info that this person provided to me and they deal with btea and springboard on a regular basis.

What I would advise doing is check with person who deals with springboard/btea at local sw office and get their take on this.

Noisin

Thanks Eastbono, the feedback is appreciated. I'll have to investigate further whether a person is eligible

Noisin

That went too fast. Will do that. I'll have to look into whether a person is eligible for a VEC grant for a masters course. See is there a way to be eligible with a mean test. Thanks again for the feedback.

eastbono

Let me know how it turns out... you can pm me wit the outcome if you want.

MouseTail

There are no grants for a Masters or Springboard. The idea of Springboard is they are free part time courses, and it doesn't affect your payment. So if you run out of stamps after you start the course, you will be means tested as normal, and receive (or not) an amended payment, but you can remain on the course.

Noisin

Actually there are Masters through Springboard check their website. This I am sure of. Are you sure you cannot get a VEC grant and do a masters. Have you actually looked into this. As my sister has a Masters and she received a grant, this was a long time ago in 05 or 06, not sure actually. I'm sure a lot has changed since then though.

LegacyUser

If on Carers allowance can I apply for a springboard course