BTEA

jvrk

Hi have to repeat modules on a link in basis and was wondering what happens to my BTEA? Because if I loose this then I will have to drop out. So what are my options if any.

Annasopra

http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Back-to-Education-Allowance-Scheme.aspx

14.7 Repeat years:

BTEA participants who have to repeat a year of their course will continue to be paid the allowance for the repeat year. This is provided that the BTEA participant is registered and attending as a FULL-TIME student for the repeat year. Repeat students who register as external students, exam only students or part-time students for their repeat year are not eligible for the allowance. A person will only be allowed to repeat one academic year of their current course of study on the basis of exam failure and/or exceptional circumstances,evidence of such to be provided. eg due to illness, pregnancy, force majeure reasons.

jvrk

So therefore I loose all entitlements as my repeat year is not full.

LegacyUser

Is it a full semester you are repeating?

I was in a position of having to repeat just one semester. I explained my situation to social welfare and there was no hassle with them paying me my BTEA for just the semester I was repeating- Jan to May.

I had thought the same as you that because I was only repeating one semester that I wouldn't be classed as a full time student. I even went to citizen's information and they weren't sure either that I would be classed as full time or not or if I would still be eligible to receive it only doing one semester. They told me all I could do was try, so I just went to my local social welfare and explained myself and applied.

I even emphasised to them that I had been unsure I would be allowed because I was only repeating one semester but the girl dealing with me told that it was no problem.

I think that maybe they class full time as the amount of hours a week you are doing, so seeing as I was doing the whole semester ie. attending all classes every day and doing all exams for that semester they saw me as "full time", and I wasn't just an external student who would be just showing up for the exams. There was one CA subject I didn't have to repeat but I didn't get into the details of it with them, I just told them "I have to repeat one semester".

Either the very young, new looking girl made a mistake by telling me this was no problem and setting me up to be paid for the repeat semester, or else she was completely correct to do so. I'm guessing she was right though because that was in first year, and I have continued to receive BTEA since then and will be starting 3rd year soon.

I was repeating the semester due to a death in my immediate family, and all the hospital stays beforehand meant I missed lots of classes and mandatory labs. I don't know if or even think this had any bearing on the decision though, as the girl didn't seem to care or even ask why I had to repeat the semester. She just told me it was no problem.


So I would say just ask them. If you are doing a whole semester (attending classes daily), then hopefully you will be doing enough hours a week for them to class you as a "full time" student.
Best of luck.:)

Annasopra

jvrk wrote: »

So therefore I loose all entitlements as my repeat year is not full.

I think so yes

jvrk

Hi again went to my local office today and they gave me a form to fill in part time back to education have you ever heard of this?

Balagan

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/back_to_education/part_time_education_option.html

Annasopra

jvrk wrote: »

Hi again went to my local office today and they gave me a form to fill in part time back to education have you ever heard of this?

Yes - you go onto jobseekers for the year while you are repeating but I don't think your BTEA or jobseekers will continue once the year is over