BTEA and deferral

koumi

I returned to full time ed in September and have been on BTEA for the last five months but due to circumstances have been on sick leave since the second week in September. I provided the college with certs and doctors letters and requested a deferral in November when I realised I had missed too much time to make it worthwhile going back. I'm still awaiting a decision on deferral but attended the social welfare today to inform them that I was no longer attending college and brought in the same documentation I provided as evidence to the college.

I thought I would be making an illness benefit claim but I was informed that if I were to do that my current payment would be stopped while a new claim was made and they informed me then that I was currently on JSA. I questioned when that payment would be made and they said it was made today. I'm a bit confused as to how a new claim was processed as I hadn't contacted them until today, and when I asked about making a new claim I was informed that any application for DA would interfere with JSA. I never made a JSA claim, I was under the impression that JSA is for Jobseekers but if I'm currently unfit to attend college I'm not sure how I'm going manage attempting to seek work. (the reason I returned to full time ed was because I was unable to work, I'm genuinely concerned about how this will affect my health)

koumi

just an update in case it applies to anybody else, I have to be on JSA first before applying for DA so can make my application next week. (TG)

Gatling

koumi wrote: »

just an update in case it applies to anybody else, I have to be on JSA first before applying for DA so can make my application next week. (TG)

Be aware that making and actually receiving a DA can take up to 12 months and many get refused