Back To Education Allowance

Nattyyyy

Hello can any one help me out.....
I have been waiting for well over a month for back to education allowance and they still don't know if I am going to get it. My concern is will they still back date my money even though I didn't get BTEA or what? As I'm only on job seekers allowance and is finding commuting pretty expensive.
Thank you

Nonagesimal

Hi there,

I was in the same boat you were, I applied back in June, Handed my registration from College in at the end of August and received confirmation the 1st of October, just hold on, I had many sleepless nights wondering if I got it or not. fingers crossed for you . :-)

BTEA is the same amount as JA, so you'll still struggle with travelling expenses! They are usually pretty quick to pay it, usually as soon as you've paid the fees to college.

Annasopra

Deleted User wrote: »

BTEA is the same amount as JA,

No; the standard rate of BTEA is 188; however since this year because of new rules you dont always get the standard rate

mango salsa

mango salsa wrote: »

No; the standard rate of BTEA is 188; however since this year because of new rules you dont always get the standard rate

That's what I meant. I only used the 188 as an example. The down side of BTEA is you no longer get the Cost of Education allowance, which is a big loss.

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

"Since 1 January 2013, if you are a new BTEA participant aged over 25 your weekly BTEA rate will be equal to your previous social protection payment (the payment that qualified you for participation in the scheme). If you are a new participant aged under 25 and you were getting a reduced age-related payment jobseeker's payment, you will get a new personal maximum BTEA rate of €160 (any means you have will be deducted from this rate). You may also qualify for increases for a qualified adult and qualified children (see 'Qualified adult' below). People who were getting a Back to Education Allowance before 1 January 2013 are not affected by the Budget 2013 changes and continue to be paid at the same rate.

The Cost of Education Allowance was discontinued for existing and new participants from 1 January 2013."

mcleixlip

Yep - the buggers - I had to drop out last year because I was 4 days short of qualifying for BTEA - I deferred as a back-up. Nothing new on the job front this year so I re-accepted. Because of the change they're only giving €38pw (same as job-seekers because my wife earns €500pw). the €38 barely covers travel, can't afford childcare & forget books & even the cost of printing lecture notes/assignments. #screwed.

paperclip2

mcleixlip wrote: »

Yep - the buggers - I had to drop out last year because I was 4 days short of qualifying for BTEA - I deferred as a back-up. Nothing new on the job front this year so I re-accepted. Because of the change they're only giving €38pw (same as job-seekers because my wife earns €500pw). the €38 barely covers travel, can't afford childcare & forget books & even the cost of printing lecture notes/assignments. #screwed.

Have you checked into the childcare provision under subvention? It might be of some help. The only downside is the childcare provider has to be a community facility or other not for profit provider as far as I know.

Some info here: http://www.dcya.gov.ie/documents/childcare/CC_Subvention_Scheme/CC_Subvention_Scheme.htm

dharma200

Unfortumnately he won't get subvention as his wife's income is the income they will take into account, although there is some subvention if person has medical card. I suspect the wife's earnings will stop the subvention tho?
I a, still waiting for back to education, I a, entitled to it as was on it last year... It's soo infuriating

Genevaman

mango salsa wrote: »

No; the standard rate of BTEA is 188; however since this year because of new rules you dont always get the standard rate

Pretty sure the standard rate is 160. It was 188 last year but was cut in that year's budget.

Annasopra

Genevaman wrote: »

Pretty sure the standard rate is 160. It was 188 last year but was cut in that year's budget.

The standard rate is 188 unless you receive a reduced jobseekers payment due to your age or the means test.