BTEA and part time work

dsignr25

Hi I've just noticed that the rules have changed for part time work while claiming BTEA for the upcoming academic year.

I've just completed 3rd year where it was required I complete a work placement. The company requested that I continue to work 10 hours a week once I go back to college and I accepted. I am due to begin next week.

This morning, I noticed the terms of BTEA and part time work have changed and it will now affect the rate of payment.

Silly question: Am I correct in thinking that this means testing applies to all participants on the scheme and people who began receiving BTEA prior to Jan 2013 are not excluded?

Another: If I earn approx €95 for 10 hours, can anyone give me an idea of how much my payment of €188 will decrease?

Thanks for the help

mp22

How many days is the 10 hours spread over?

dsignr25

mp22 wrote: »

How many days is the 10 hours spread over?

It'll depend on my timetable but most probably over 2 evenings

mp22

means test for €95 over 2 days.
95 minus 40(allowance for 2 days)=55 get 60% of that =€33.
You will get aprox €155 per week from the dept.

dsignr25

mp22 wrote: »

means test for €95 over 2 days.
95 minus 40(allowance for 2 days)=55 get 60% of that =€33.
You will get aprox €155 per week from the dept.

Is it okay if I have to split the work over 3 days?

kilkenny31

I have a question regarding the same issue. I am going into 4th year. I will be working for the college on an ad-hoc basis. I am in receipt of BTEA. The work will be very limited (no regular hours, short hours if i do work). I only realised today that the rules changed. Im starting to wonder will it be worth the hassle. Does system work similar to the "X's and O's" system. Will I have to hand in something every week signed and stamped by the college. If i work 2 hours one evening during a week will i loose a whole days pay. Its frustrating that they changed this. Makes it harder for people to work.

Mr Joe

kilkenny31 wrote: »

I have a question regarding the same issue. I am going into 4th year. I will be working for the college on an ad-hoc basis. I am in receipt of BTEA. The work will be very limited (no regular hours, short hours if i do work). I only realised today that the rules changed. Im starting to wonder will it be worth the hassle. Does system work similar to the "X's and O's" system. Will I have to hand in something every week signed and stamped by the college. If i work 2 hours one evening during a week will i loose a whole days pay. Its frustrating that they changed this. Makes it harder for people to work.

I agree with you, I was on BTEA last year and hopefully will be for the coming year. There is no denying the BTEA system is incredibly frustrating and needs overhaul.
As far as I'm concerned this change is pretty big as it affects anyone on this scheme working. I have only became aware because of this thread and the Citizens Information and welfare.ie website.

Part time work on BTEA was never means tested before now, does anyone know when this came in? It would have been nice if we recieved some notification, it's very difficult to plan ahead on these schemes as they consistently change so often. It appears if working on BTEA is now means tested the incentive to work diminishes, jumping through even more hoops, forms, tax, and having your payment deducted. I'm not sure how this benefits anyone?

eastbono

The change will not affect people who are already on BTEA and returning it is only new BTEA applicants who will be affected.

Mr Joe

eastbono wrote: »

The change will not affect people who are already on BTEA and returning it is only new BTEA applicants who will be affected.

Hi, can I ask how you found that out? Because on welfare.ie and CI website it just states:

"From the 2016/2017 academic year, people getting BTEA who take up work during the academic year will have means from work assessed under the rules that apply to their primary payment (the payment they qualified for BTEA from).

Previously part-time work during the academic year did not affect the rate of BTEA paid."

I haven't received any letters about BTEA since the end of the last academic year, I think they are waiting on my registration form for 16/17

mp22

From the academic year 2015/16 all new BTEA participants with eligibility based on a qualifying payment (see 4.1) must re-establish their entitlement to the qualifying payment at the beginning of each and subsequent academic year and continue to satisfy the means test during the academic year (if applicable). The conditionality attached to the qualifying payment must be examined at the beginning of each academic year in order for BTEA to be approved.
For BTEA participants approved prior to the 2015/16 academic year where eligibility was based on jobseeker qualifying payments (see 4.1) the following arrangements apply:

• BTEA awarded after 1 January 2013 and prior to the academic year 2015/16: BTEA can be reapproved from the commencement of the new academic year subject to continuing to satisfy the means test of the relevant payment at the commencement of the course of study irrespective of whether they were in receipt of an unemployment payment for the summer period or not.
• there is no requirement to re-establish entitlement to an underlying qualifying payment and BTEA payment can continue
• BTEA awarded prior to 1st January 2013: The BTEA payment can be reapproved from the commencement of the new academic year, providing that the participant is progressing to the next year of their course or progressing in their levels of education to an approved course of study under BTEA, irrespective of whether they were in receipt of an unemployment payment for the summer period or not.

From here http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Back-to-Education-Allowance-Scheme.aspx#4.10

Mr Joe

mp22 wrote: »

From the academic year 2015/16 all new BTEA participants with eligibility based on a qualifying payment (see 4.1) must re-establish their entitlement to the qualifying payment at the beginning of each and subsequent academic year and continue to satisfy the means test during the academic year (if applicable). The conditionality attached to the qualifying payment must be examined at the beginning of each academic year in order for BTEA to be approved.
For BTEA participants approved prior to the 2015/16 academic year where eligibility was based on jobseeker qualifying payments

• BTEA awarded after 1 January 2013 and prior to the academic year 2015/16: BTEA can be reapproved from the commencement of the new academic year subject to continuing to satisfy the means test of the relevant payment at the commencement of the course of study irrespective of whether they were in receipt of an unemployment payment for the summer period or not.
• there is no requirement to re-establish entitlement to an underlying qualifying payment and BTEA payment can continue
• BTEA awarded prior to 1st January 2013: The BTEA payment can be reapproved from the commencement of the new academic year, providing that the participant is progressing to the next year of their course or progressing in their levels of education to an approved course of study under BTEA, irrespective of whether they were in receipt of an unemployment payment for the summer period or not.

Hi I seen that about being re approved yearly, as far as I can tell (touch wood) it won't be as painful as starting from scratch getting the approval in Year 1.

But not sure re PT work, any idea on that if it's means tested or not for continuing BTEA claimants?

dsignr25

Mr Joe wrote: »

Hi I seen that about being re approved yearly, as far as I can tell (touch wood) it won't be as painful as starting from scratch getting the approval in Year 1.

But not sure re PT work, any idea on that if it's means tested or not for continuing BTEA claimants?

I've just called and was told that part time work won't affect my BTEA as I started in 2013.

I do have to fill in some forms to reactivate my claim as I've been working full time during the summer though. Apparently, my name was not down for payment 😟

Fish Bloke

mp22 wrote: »

• BTEA awarded after 1 January 2013 and prior to the academic year 2015/16: BTEA can be reapproved from the commencement of the new academic year subject to continuing to satisfy the means test of the relevant payment at the commencement of the course of study irrespective of whether they were in receipt of an unemployment payment for the summer period or not.

I fall into this category and I'm very confused.
I have been in college since 2014/2015.

I had intended to work on Saturdays and Sundays this academic year.

Will I be able to keep anything earned on those two days, in addition to the €188 BTEA payment I was receiving?
Or will my BTEA payment be reduced in the same way a JA payment would be?

I called my local SW Office but unfortunately the person who answered was unable to give me any information.

mp22

Fish Bloke wrote: »

[/LIST]

I fall into this category and I'm very confused.
I have been in college since 2014/2015.

I had intended to work on Saturdays and Sundays this academic year.

Will I be able to keep anything earned on those two days, in addition to the €188 BTEA payment I was receiving?
Or will my BTEA payment be reduced in the same way a JA payment would be?

I called my local SW Office but unfortunately the person who answered was unable to give me any information.

Item 9 in the link on my post states

From 2016/17 academic year, BTEA participants, who take up part-time work within the academic year will be assessed in accordance with their primary payment. Please see 9.2.

Officers should also note that part-time work may affect entitlements to secondary benefits such as Fuel Allowance, Rent Allowance/ Mortgage Interest Supplement. Information on such situation can be found on www.welfare.ie.​
9.2 Paid Work Placement

Where a BTEA participant receives payment for an integral/mandatory/compulsory work placement (see section 7.4) this should be assessed as at 9.1. On completion of work placement, the participant should contact the Local Intreo Centre to reactovate the BTEA claim (subject to normal BTEA rules). ​

9.3 Revised means decisions – effective from 1st January 2013

Where a change of circumstances based on means arises (i.e. where a spouse/partner commences or loses work, increased income) the BTEA payment rate must be revised using the rules applicable to means on the qualifying payment. Such change could also result in a requirement to review the rate payable in respect of a qualified adult/child dependent allowance.


So worst case you will be means tested on 2 days,gross pay minus 40,get 60% of the remainder that will be your means