Qualifying for BTEA - help!?

turnikett1

So this is my situation. I am currently deferring my 2nd year of Arts (for the 2nd time). As you might know, when you repeat a year you obviously cannot continue to get the grant. So on this year out I've taken I've decided to work and save up money to repeat. The cost of repeating the year is €6000, not including living expenses... I am trying to save up for fees (not going so well though) and will probably borrow the balance. Now, that leaves the question of maintaining my living expenses.

I obviously can't maintain a full time job and do a complete year in undergraduate studies. So part time job would be the most sensible option, however it's very hard to find a part time job - especially someone like me who hasn't that much work experience. In a fit of envy and daydream I went to citizensinformation.ie and looked up BTEA. Much to my surprise this is what it says;

"For third level courses you must have been getting a qualifying social welfare payment (see above) for 9 months (234 days of unemployment*). You must be getting the qualifying payment immediately before you start the course.

Satisfying the qualifying period
You do not have to have been getting your qualifying payment continuously. Periods spent on other qualifying social welfare payments (or getting credits) that are not broken by more than 12 months (52 weeks) can be used to determine whether you satisfy the qualifying period criteria. You must always be getting a qualifying payment immediately before starting your course."

Now in the past, mainly in my first year of deferral, I definitely spent at least 9 months on social welfare. None of which was broken by a significant amount of time, definitely not a year anyways.

So I guess my real question is - if I was to get "let go" from my employer in August and subsequently signed on the dole, would I then be eligible for BTEA until I can get the student grant again? All the information on the website seems to point YES, but it seems to be too good to be true. My life would be made so much easier if it is true.

Obviously, I'd ideally go into my local Social Welfare Office to inquire but I work Monday - Friday 9-5 so I never have the chance. Ringing them is just a pain, total waste of credit, I never get through to anyone. So therefore, I'm hoping the kind folk of boards.ie can tell me!

Cheers

fergus1001

As long as the period was no longer than 12 months I'm sure you would get it