Back to Education

raclle

Hi all,

Just querying a few things as haven't a clue about how any of this works

Working full time but looking to go back to education as a mature student to get my Hons starting next year. Ill be attempting to go the mature student and QQI route or am i wasting my time trying both?

So i was planning on doing the QQI course in September but not sure what benefits im entitled too after working full time. Also if i was to receive benefits would i still be allowed work part time?

Im currently renting a place as well so would i have to move back home or is there some sort of rent allowance for back to education?

Sorry Im completely clueless with all this

splinter65

raclle wrote: »

Hi all,

Just querying a few things as haven't a clue about how any of this works

Working full time but looking to go back to education as a mature student to get my Hons starting next year. Ill be attempting to go the mature student and QQI route or am i wasting my time trying both?

So i was planning on doing the QQI course in September but not sure what benefits im entitled too after working full time. Also if i was to receive benefits would i still be allowed work part time?

Im currently renting a place as well so would i have to move back home or is there some sort of rent allowance for back to education?

Sorry Im completely clueless with all this

Hi
There’s no SW benefits/rent allowance that you’d be entitled to at all if you left work to go to college.
You can apply to SUSI for a grant/fees but it’s means tested against the SOL for 2019.

raclle

Do you mean there's no way i can go back to full time education and receive any sort of benefits?

I'll be leaving full time work so ill have no income.

The only information i can find in going back to education is for unemployed people.

Will i have to go this route?

LessOutragePlz

raclle wrote: »

Do you mean there's no way i can go back to full time education and receive any sort of benefits?

I'll be leaving full time work so ill have no income.

The only information i can find in going back to education is for unemployed people.

Will i have to go this route?

Yeah unfortunately it's a fairly ridiculous system you need to be receipt of social welfare for 9 months in order to be able to claim the back to education payment.

So you need to be on the dole for 9 months before you started college to be entitled to the back to education payment.

I could be wrong but that's how it worked for me back in 2016 don't think it's changed since.

raclle

So ill have to quit work to start my QQI course in Sept and then go on the dole?

I can then claim the BTEA next June for college next Sept?

Appreciated the advice thanks

splinter65

raclle wrote: »

So ill have to quit work to start my QQI course in Sept and then go on the dole?

I can then claim the BTEA next June for college next Sept?

Appreciated the advice thanks

No you won’t get the dole for 9 weeks if you quit work, and then you won’t get it at all if you’re doing a course because you won’t be available for or looking for full time work.

splinter65

LessOutragePlz wrote: »

Yeah unfortunately it's a fairly ridiculous system you need to be receipt of social welfare for 9 months in order to be able to claim the back to education payment.

So you need to be on the dole for 9 months before you started college to be entitled to the back to education payment.

I could be wrong but that's how it worked for me back in 2016 don't think it's changed since.

It’s not really ridiculous. Leaving work to pursue an academic course is a lifestyle choice. As an adult you need to take personal responsibility for your choices. SW is for people who find themselves in need outside of their own control.

raclle

If you go part time you can then claim JS allowance if you only work 3 out of the 7 days per week.

Would you still be entitled to the BTEA then?

splinter65

raclle wrote: »

If you go part time you can then claim JS allowance if you only work 3 out of the 7 days per week.

Would you still be entitled to the BTEA then?

If you cut your own hours in order to work 3 days out of 7 then you won’t get any JSA.

raclle

I understand but we'll just say for instance im working part time and get the JSA would i be entitled to the BTEA?

phildenny

raclle wrote: »

I understand but we'll just say for instance im working part time and get the JSA would i be entitled to the BTEA?

AFAIK you have to have 9 months unemployment in the previous 12 months. So can do some p/t work and use x's and o's to get ub. But would have to be unemployed for 3/4 of the year. They're very strict on the exact no. of days, I know someone who lost out because of 2 days.

phildenny

raclle wrote: »

I understand but we'll just say for instance im working part time and get the JSA would i be entitled to the BTEA?

AFAIK you have to have 9 months unemployment in the previous 12 months. So can do some p/t work and use x's and o's to get ub. But would have to be unemployed for 3/4 of the year. They're very strict on the exact no. of days, I know someone who lost out because of 2 days.

raclle

Can i go from fulltime to part time or would i have to be unemployed to go part time?

Sorry what is this meaning "use x's and o's to get ub"?

Appreciate the replies lads

splinter65

raclle wrote: »

I understand but we'll just say for instance im working part time and get the JSA would i be entitled to the BTEA?

If you get part time JSA then depending on how long your on it you may get BTEA at the same rate. But you won’t get JSA if you cut your days down in an attempt to qualify.

splinter65

raclle wrote: »

Can i go from fulltime to part time or would i have to be unemployed to go part time?

Sorry what is this meaning "use x's and o's to get ub"?

Appreciate the replies lads

If your employer says “sorry raclle I have to cut you back from 5 days to 3/2 day’s due to a downturn in business” then you will get jobseekers for the days you’ve lost. If you ask/tell your boss that you can only work 2/3 days then you won’t get any jobseekers.
I can’t explain it any more simpler then that.

raclle

Sorry, what I mean splinter, if I go from fulltime to part time "not of my own free will" would I be eligible for BTEA or do I have to start off being unemployed first? but you mentioned I may be eligible but its something id have to take up with the welfare office.

phildenny

raclle wrote: »

Can i go from fulltime to part time or would i have to be unemployed to go part time?

Sorry what is this meaning "use x's and o's to get ub"?

Appreciate the replies lads

X's and o's may be called something else now. Ub is unemployment benefit now job seekers benefit. Basically you tell dole office how many days you worked in the week/month and you get dole for the other days. But you have to get enough dole days in the year to qualify, the equivalent of 9 months dole in the year. That is a lot. It means on the dole 3 days out of 4.

Leftwaffe

I received BTEA for the 4 years of my degree. Need to be on the DOLE for an equivalent of 9 months previous to qualify IIRC. Luckily I was in that bracket. Paid direct into the bank account for the entirety of my degree. If I can help just shoot me a message.