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BTEA & child dependencies?

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  • 02-11-2011 2:53pm
    #1
    mrmac
    Registered Users Posts: 2,967 ✭✭✭


    I'm hoping someone might be able to share their knowledge with me, as I find it's getting harder to get a straight answer from my local SWO.

    Quick history;

    2010-2011 academic year, I was on J.Benefit, then qualified for a BTEA of €212, including allowance for 2 children.
    I didn't get any student services fees, or grant, as I had been in full time employement for most of 2009.

    2011-2012 academic year, no longer on JB, but JA (after means test = €170 pw), but when I started back to college, I'm told my BTEA is now only €188 (personal rate), and since my spouse earns just over €310pw, I'm not entitled to any allowance for my two kids.
    I did qualify for my student services fees (via the VEC), which was a huge relief!

    Is this correct? I'm a little confused, as I thought the BTEA wasn't means tested? That's a drop of €24 per week, which to me, is a lot of money!
    I thought that the €310pw spouses income meant that the childrens rate was cut in half, to €14.90, not taken away completely?

    Any advice on this would be greatly welcome, as even the student finance web site doesn't explain this aspect of the BTEA.

    TIA.

    *Mods - wasn't sure if this category, or Student Finances, was the correct one; please move if you feel this would do better elsewhere.


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