BTEA

You need to be on a social welfare payment to get BTEA. If you give up your current job, you will face a disqualification from Jobseekers for up to 9 weeks. You may also have a difficulty showing that you are looking for full-time work. If your contract ends or you lose the job through no fault of your own, then you can re-apply for your Jobseekers payment. If you can re-establish your claim, then you may be able to qualify.

Other social welfare payments can count towards the 9 month period. However, it depends on the gap between the claims and the type of social welfare payment involved.

Jobseekers Benefit claims are linked back to previous Jobseekers Benefit claims if they are made within 26 weeks.
Jobseekers Allowance claims are linked back to previous Jobseekers Allowance claims if they are made within 52 weeks.

If these linking rules apply, then your claim is considered to run consecutively. If your claims are different types, then rules get a little more complicated.