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Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) - Ireland
Source: Department of Social and Family Affairs
The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) is an educational opportunities scheme for unemployed people, lone parents and people with a disability who are getting certain payments from the Department of Social and Family Affairs.
The allowance is payable to people who wish to pursue approved second or third level courses of education. BTEA is not an unemployment payment. Participants receive a standard rate of payment which is not means tested.
To qualify for a Back to Education Allowance, a person must be:
Or
Or
Periods spent on VTOS, FAS Training courses, Community Employment Schemes, Back to Work Allowance, FAS Job Initiative, Job Start or Job Assist can count towards the 6 months qualifying period. A person may access the BTEA Scheme directly from one of the above schemes if he/she was in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment prior to participation in one of the above schemes and there is not more than a 4 week break between ceasing one of the above schemes and commencing an approved course of study. Otherwise a person must be in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment immediately prior to commencing an approved course of study.
There are two study options available under the scheme:
Second Level Option
A person can attend a second level course of education at any community, comprehensive, secondary or vocational school. The course must be full-time and lead to a certificate recognised by the Department of Education and Science or approved by the National Council for Vocational Awards (NCVA), e.g. Junior Certificate, Leaving Certificate, Post Leaving Certificate, or a City and Guilds Certificate.
Third Level Option
A person can attend a third level course of education at any university, third level college or institution provided that the course is a full-time day course of study and is approved by the Department of Education and Science for Higher Education Grant purposes, or for European Structural Fund (ESF) Grant purposes, or has National Council for Educational Award (NCEA) recognition.
If a person already holds a third level qualification, a BTEA application to pursue another third level qualification will only be considered in very exceptional circumstances. BTEA is not awarded to a holder of a postgraduate qualification except under very exceptional circumstances.
Back to Education Allowance is paid at a standard rate. Therefore, if a person is currently getting a reduced rate of payment, he/she will be entitled to a higher weekly rate of BTEA.
If a person is getting an unemployment payment, he/she will be paid a Back to Education Allowance equivalent to the maximum standard rate of Unemployment Benefit.
If a person is getting a One-Parent Family Payment, Disability Allowance or Blind Person’s Pension or Carer’s Allowance he/she will be paid an allowance at a rate equivalent to the maximum rate of his/her current social welfare payment.
If a person is getting an Invalidity Pension or Unemployability Supplement, the amount of payment will remain unchanged.
The allowance will include increases for a qualified adult and child(ren) where applicable.
The allowance is payable for the duration of the course, including all holiday periods. It is not means-tested so a person may also work without affecting his/her payment.
In addition to the weekly payment, a person will also be entitled to an annual allowance towards the cost of studies. This allowance is payable at the start of each academic year and is currently £200 (e253.95).
A person keeps entitlements to any secondary benefits he/she already has e.g. Christmas Bonus, Fuel Allowance, Diet Supplement, Rent or Mortgage Supplement under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme.
Any increase in income may affect the Rent/Mortgage Supplement. Earnings from part-time employment or summer holiday work do not affect the basic BTEA payment. However, any income which a person and/or his/her spouse/partner receives (except the first £25 (e31.74) of weekly earnings from part-time work) is assessable for Rent or Mortgage Supplement.
A person must furnish a certificate from the school/college confirming registration, commencement and attendance at the course. A person will be requested to supply this information before payment can issue. During the course of the academic year, a person may be asked to provideconfirmation that he/she is still participating in the course.
BTEA is not an unemployment payment and participants are not required to ‘sign on’.
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