Maintenance grant scrapped if you receive Back to Education Allowance??

quicksilver 32

if your only getting 1140 a year your being ripped of, if your a mature student in receipt of BTEA and living out on your own you are entitled to something in the region of 7000.

Flamed Diving

Read the edit, I said €3420, per year, which is what the maintenance grant is, without the BTEA. The BTEA is simply the dole, which is €200ish, and amounts to €10,400 per year. Remember, the dole is not there to pay for your mortgage or to meet debt repayments of any kind. Supplemented with a part-time job, this BTEA is plenty of money without the grant. But nooo, people just want to be carried through the whole thing. Also, you gotta love this notion of being "ripped off" if you don't get enough free money.

Hah!

quicksilver 32

highereducationgrantsdublincity.ie

quicksilver 32

the 196.40 that people receive for the dole/btea does not cover rent, bills, travel, books, childcare, clothes, food, printing, photocopying ect. also allot of people who want to going back to college have children, fair enough it should be means tested for single childless students.
Check out barnardo's on measuring poverty

Flamed Diving

quicksilver 32 wrote: »

the 196.40 that people receive for the dole/btea does not cover rent, bills, travel, books, childcare, clothes, food, printing, photocopying ect. also allot of people who want to going back to college have children, fair enough it should be means tested for single childless students.
Check out barnardo's on measuring poverty

I never said it does. Perhaps try reading my post properly.

billy the squid

Flamed Diving wrote: »

The maintenance grant is €3420, per year. Is she using one of those calculators that doubles as a wristwatch?

That is only the half grant. A mature student living away from their parents would get aroung €6600

you have to add the cut in BTEA of 8.40 per week as well as the cut in child benefit.

am not sure if there are any other cuts I am leaving out.

koHd

Can you work part time when you receive btea and are in full time third level education?

Block G Raptor

koHd wrote: »

Can you work part time when you receive btea and are in full time third level education?

You can only work on a sunday same as the dole

koHd

Block G Raptor wrote: »

You can only work on a sunday same as the dole

On the dole you can work whatever days you want as long as your weekly salary is less then 100 euro as far as I know. That's the only way anybody going to college on btea next september will survive. Remember most are out living on their own and don't have mammy or daddy's cash to keep them going. The chances of anybody hiring you when you say you can only work on a Sunday are slim to none. That would be completely unfair. Absolutrly no adult living on their own with their own bills will survive college under those circumstances.

farzad

Flamed Diving wrote: »

In English:

If you are getting BTEA:

1) You will no longer receive the maintenance grant, on new apps.

2) Your tuition fees will still be paid.

3) You will no longer receive the maintenance grant. Just in case you missed that the first time.

yes exactly this is the new scheme !

that's right

koHd

If tuition fee's are still paid it's still a great thing. If you're allowed work part-time for up to E100 a week as well as get the BTEA you won't need the maintenance.

Gael23

Does BTEA cover the registration fee?

Block G Raptor

ryanf1 wrote: »

Does BTEA cover the registration fee?

It didn't last year but apparently for those who are not entitled to the maintenance grant from next year it will be

CoolDruid

The Social Welfare Student.
The Back to Education Allowance(BTEA) €197.80 per week, €10483
Rent Support; €130.00 per week €6760
The Maintenance Grant (HEG); €3,420.00 per year €3420
The Special Rate of Maintenance Grant (Top-Up) €3,270.00 per year €3270
Cost of Education Grant €500.00 per year. €500
500 European Social fund (ESF) €500.00 per year €500
500 Student Support Fund, (SSF) (loan) per degree. €1,000.00 €333
per degree 333

Total Per Week (€485) every week, for 3 years, guaranteed. Tot €25,266
Total per year; €25,266 pa
10483+6760+3420+3270+500+500+333= €25,266 per year = €75,798 per 3 year degree.:eek:

CoolDruid

The Minimum Wage Student.
Maintenance Grant (HEG) € 3420 per year 3420
European Social Fund (ESF) €350 per year 350
Student Support Fund (SSF) €1000 per degree 333

Per week (€78) every week for 3 years, guaranteed.
€78pw
Total per year; €4,103pa
3420+350+333 = €4,103 per year = €12,309 per 3 year degree.:p

bindi

That might be the case for a very very small amount of people. I dont get these amazing sums of money you point out. I work part time and get my btea. For some poeple going back to college as a mature student with kids is nightmarishly hard!!!! I have a significant other who works but its still close to impossible as to how we manage to get by.... Its not as easy as you make out.... I dont go out I dont go on holiday and we drive ****e cars that break down all the time. Then we are at the mercy of our cowardly government. Its all a load a boll*x really..

CoolDruid wrote: »

The Minimum Wage Student.
Maintenance Grant (HEG) € 3420 per year 3420
European Social Fund (ESF) €350 per year 350
Student Support Fund (SSF) €1000 per degree 333

Per week (€78) every week for 3 years, guaranteed.
€78pw
Total per year; €4,103pa
3420+350+333 = €4,103 per year = €12,309 per 3 year degree.:p

CoolDruid

Please insure you are claiming all your entitlements.

The average Irish industrial wage in 2008 is: €32,000pa; €495 per week after tax.
The Social Welfare Student is entitled to: €25,266pa; €485 per week, no tax, insurance paid.

You can also get a medical card.

Do use your good fortune to help others.

Good luck with your studies.

The Social Welfare Student.
The Back to Education Allowance(BTEA) €197.80 per week, €10483
Rent Support; €130.00 per week €6760
The Maintenance Grant (HEG); €3,420.00 per year €3420
The Special Rate of Maintenance Grant (Top-Up) €3,270.00 per year €3270
Cost of Education Grant €500.00 per year. €500
500 European Social fund (ESF) €500.00 per year €500
500 Student Support Fund, (SSF) (loan) per degree. €1,000.00 €333
per degree 333

Total Per Week (€485) every week, for 3 years, guaranteed. Tot €25,266
Total per year; €25,266 pa
10483+6760+3420+3270+500+500+333= €25,266 per year = €75,798 per 3 year degree.

Gael23

CoolDruid wrote: »

The Social Welfare Student.
The Back to Education Allowance(BTEA) €197.80 per week, €10483
Rent Support; €130.00 per week €6760
The Maintenance Grant (HEG); €3,420.00 per year €3420
The Special Rate of Maintenance Grant (Top-Up) €3,270.00 per year €3270
Cost of Education Grant €500.00 per year. €500
500 European Social fund (ESF) €500.00 per year €500
500 Student Support Fund, (SSF) (loan) per degree. €1,000.00 €333
per degree 333

Total Per Week (€485) every week, for 3 years, guaranteed. Tot €25,266
Total per year; €25,266 pa
10483+6760+3420+3270+500+500+333= €25,266 per year = €75,798 per 3 year degree.

I think thats only in the case of a mature student. As an ordinary school leaver I dont think I would get all this? Wouldnt even know how to get half it anyway.

JamesWat

Hi There

I got letter from my local VEC stating that I may lose my Maintenance grant in Sept 2010. I am currently in third year of a BSc in IT and hope to do BSc Hons in Sept. This involves changing from TLT grant to HEG grant and apparently this may be considered as a new application hence not being eligible for maintenance grant id claiming BTEA. Has anyone had similar experience?

farzad

JamesWat wrote: »

Hi There

I got letter from my local VEC stating that I may lose my Maintenance grant in Sept 2010. I am currently in third year of a BSc in IT and hope to do BSc Hons in Sept. This involves changing from TLT grant to HEG grant and apparently this may be considered as a new application hence not being eligible for maintenance grant id claiming BTEA. Has anyone had similar experience?

who will pay your college annual registration fee than ?

Gael23

I understand that you wont have to pay the registratiom fee if you get BTEA. Im not certain though.

farzad

ryanf1 wrote: »

I understand that you wont have to pay the registratiom fee if you get BTEA. Im not certain though.

i did apply for the student grant in august and i am still waiting (OMG!!!) i don't know if i still get it this year or not, as far as i know when you are getting BETA you will receive 500 euros for your expenses at the beginning of the academic year , but i am still unsure they will pay your college registration fee or not , if not it's not easy for me to manage it next year .( No more student grant , only beta !!! no more fee pay , i have to withdraw my course :(:mad:)

coolch

decimal wrote: »

Am I right in thinking that mature students who are getting the dole (AKA back to education allowance) are completely pissed at the fact that they won't get the extra €6,699 per college year?

I can't think of what any student needs that amount of money for, or why they can't see sense in it being cut. How can someone justify needing that amount of money to attend college? If you are getting the BTEA, you have lived on the dole for 12 months already, how is college adding nearly €200 extra per week to your expenses?

If you break it down, you were getting nearly €400 per week, how can you justify getting that amount while being a student?

I am a single mother with two kids and goign to college, I need that money for my after school care and pay my household bills as i cant take on work, motherhood and school at teh same time., transport to drop my kids to school. so when you say you dont understand whya student needs that money, i dont knwo what you mean.

WesternNight

decimal wrote: »

Am I right in thinking that mature students who are getting the dole (AKA back to education allowance) are completely pissed at the fact that they won't get the extra €6,699 per college year?

I can't think of what any student needs that amount of money for, or why they can't see sense in it being cut. How can someone justify needing that amount of money to attend college? If you are getting the BTEA, you have lived on the dole for 12 months already, how is college adding nearly €200 extra per week to your expenses?

If you break it down, you were getting nearly €400 per week, how can you justify getting that amount while being a student?

I'm not sure where you're getting your figures from. What's the €6,699? The maintenance grant is €3420 for mature students. What else are you including there?

Lemondrop kid

Anyhow, back at the OP ranch...
It seems the policy materialises in the following way.
From sept 2010 on, mature qualifying students will have their dole now regarded as reckonable income, ie the 10,000 odd will now be added to your income calculations. Most should still qualify as they'll still be below the cut off point. Some, with alimony payments etc might be above the magical 23,000 (approx figure) for single person. Those with kids - qualifying is higher than 23,000 - check with local council. If this is this case, its not as bad as originally thought - but clarity will take time in coming. Contact USI in a month or so.

PS It is rather disheartening to see the disparaging comments on this post and others on the Budget Forum. 'Twill be a much longer, harder and meaner road to recover if we don't start thinking in societal terms rather than 'me versus you' terms.

pandamoanium

Hi Lemondrop Kid,

Do you mind me asking where you have gotten this information from, as I have been in contact with a few VEC's and have put this specific question to them; i.e. will BTEA merely from now onwards be used as reckonable income when assessing grant eligibility, thus meaning that those whose limits are under the threshold (including BTEA) will continue to receive both payments (BTEA and grant).

The replies I received ranged from copy and paste blurb from the Budget to a resounding NO, that BTEA recipients will not be entitled to a grant despite their income being well under the current thresholds.

I would love it to be if what you say is true, however, I'm very doubtful at this stage...

I'm currently awaiting proper clarification from Minister O'Keeffe.

Lemondrop kid

http://www.louthcoco.ie/index.aspx?deptid=6&dpageid=0

Half way down the page.
This is the clearest info I've come across yet, but tbh there is still confusion surrounding this. However, usually when one council issues clarity the rest follow suit.

counterpointaud

Lemondrop kid wrote: »

PS It is rather disheartening to see the disparaging comments on this post and others on the Budget Forum. 'Twill be a much longer, harder and meaner road to recover if we don't start thinking in societal terms rather than 'me versus you' terms.

Hear, hear.

brendansmith

CoolDruid wrote: »

The Special Rate of Maintenance Grant (Top-Up) €3,270.00 per year €3270

How do you qualify for this?

Stark

Lemondrop kid wrote: »

PS It is rather disheartening to see the disparaging comments on this post and others on the Budget Forum. 'Twill be a much longer, harder and meaner road to recover if we don't start thinking in societal terms rather than 'me versus you' terms.

Meh. I'll probably be going back to college next year and will lose out as part of the new arrangements. Better than paying 70% tax on my income after I graduate though.

skelliser

how do you apply for the european social fund?

siennaL

Am, maybe because i have 3 kids, and that will cost 540 a wk childcare when i go back to university ???

theg81der

Cool Druid what are you on about? I`m a mature student getting the grant -€3300 and the btea - €196 per week. My husbands unemployed he graduated last year with a first and received nothing while studying for 4 years because I was working and paid for him. He has a daughter and maintainance payment which equal the grant every week.

Do you seriously think people are like woohoo quids in? I want a job, I couldn`t get one so I had to go to college. I don`t drink or smoke and I`m finding it tough money wise. Someone on the dole doesn`t have to pay to get to and from college, or for books etc it has to come out of that money. Your not getting extra party money.

TERRIC

Long shot, I know BUT:

Do you think that this rule (scrapping grant if in receipt of BTEA...) should still apply if an offer given and deferred in 2009 takes up a place this sept. 2010.

I ask as this new ruling was not announced until after decisions to defer were taken and would surely have impacted on any deferral decision being made if the info. was there at the time.

Anyone??

angel87

hi, I have problem maybe somebody will advice me.
so I ve moved from POland to Ireland in 2006.. now I m on jobseekers allowance.. and on 15 september I m starting Nursing course. I was trying to get grants.. I got answer that I m not mature student cos I wasnt 23 years old in january 2010 . My birthday is in may so in january i was still 22.. this is stupid.. so they told me to change from mature student to depend on parents and my parent must to sign that... sorry but from 2006 i dont depend on my parents. so what should i do . my parents live in poland.. and i live here with my boyfriend and my son.

Head The Wall

You're not entitled to whatever grant you are looking for, that's the long and the short of it. You can wait until next year and apply again

They won't believe that you are dependent on your parents either, thats just someone trying to get you off the phone.

sunny1510

I'm probably eligible for the BTEA as I have been on part time work for the last 2 years and am in receipt of Job seekers Allowance. My question is this...would I not be better off just to apply for the maintenance grant? As I obviously cannot afford to pay for registration and tuition fees? I know I can apply for both the BTEA and the grant but is there not a catch somewhere? I'm just afraid I'll get the BTEA and then be stuck with payment of fees! I'm going back to do a Higher Diploma but may want to continue on and do a Masters so how will that affect my grant application if I continue with further studies as I know the BTEA only applies when you do a post grad Higher Diploma. I just don't want the BTEA to affect my grant application in the future!
I'm abit confused about all this. If anyone can shed some light on this I'd be very grateful

Thanks

TheReverend

sunny1510 wrote: »

I'm probably eligible for the BTEA as I have been on part time work for the last 2 years and am in receipt of Job seekers Allowance. My question is this...would I not be better off just to apply for the maintenance grant? As I obviously cannot afford to pay for registration and tuition fees? I know I can apply for both the BTEA and the grant but is there not a catch somewhere? I'm just afraid I'll get the BTEA and then be stuck with payment of fees! I'm going back to do a Higher Diploma but may want to continue on and do a Masters so how will that affect my grant application if I continue with further studies as I know the BTEA only applies when you do a post grad Higher Diploma. I just don't want the BTEA to affect my grant application in the future!
I'm abit confused about all this. If anyone can shed some light on this I'd be very grateful

Thanks

You get get the maintenance grant to pay for the reg fee, but you dont get money each month, but you can get BTEA along side this.