BTEA Qualifying Criteria

ms.sunnyb

Hi guys, does anyone know the story with how long you have to unemployed to qualify? i was under the impression from reading below(taken from citizen information website) that it was 9months throughout the year, nothing mentioned about continualsly


"Qualifying period
For second level courses you must have been getting a qualifying social welfare payment (see above) for at least 3 months (78 days of unemployment*). You must be getting the qualifying paymentimmediately before you start the course.

For third level courses you must have been getting a qualifying social welfare payment (see above) for 9 months (234 days of unemployment*). You must be getting the qualifying payment immediately before you start the course.

*If you are getting a jobseeker's payment, each day you are unemployed, except Sunday, is counted as a day of unemployment."


However reading through threads on boards people seem to be sayin it has to be continusly, asked in citizen information, yer one was pretty clueless. I was unemployed from August12-end of Feb then got a temp job from March to may thinking I would still qualify, not I'm not sure. Any info would be appreciated, thanks

shawki

ms.sunnyb wrote: »

Hi guys, does anyone know the story with how long you have to unemployed to qualify? i was under the impression from reading below(taken from citizen information website) that it was 9months throughout the year, nothing mentioned about continualsly


"Qualifying period
For second level courses you must have been getting a qualifying social welfare payment (see above) for at least 3 months (78 days of unemployment*). You must be getting the qualifying paymentimmediately before you start the course.

For third level courses you must have been getting a qualifying social welfare payment (see above) for 9 months (234 days of unemployment*). You must be getting the qualifying payment immediately before you start the course.

*If you are getting a jobseeker's payment, each day you are unemployed, except Sunday, is counted as a day of unemployment."


However reading through threads on boards people seem to be sayin it has to be continusly, asked in citizen information, yer one was pretty clueless. I was unemployed from August12-end of Feb then got a temp job from March to may thinking I would still qualify, not I'm not sure. Any info would be appreciated, thanks

Keep reading its in next paragraph on the BTEA page

ms.sunnyb

oops, thanks

LJ82

I've rang the btea people in carrick on Shannon a few times and they could not have been more helpful, good luck

Tashaf

I've been accepted for college in September 2013 but I don't qualify for BETA because i'm only on illness benefit for 12months.

I really don't want to miss this opportunity I dunno what to do... Someone please help :(:(:(

Is there a way around all this?

(new to boards.ie I dunno how this works really)

shawnee

Tashaf wrote: »

I've been accepted for college in September 2013 but I don't qualify for BETA because i'm only on illness benefit for 12months.

I really don't want to miss this opportunity I dunno what to do... Someone please help :(:(:(

Is there a way around all this?

(new to boards.ie I dunno how this works really)

You could come off illness benefit and go on jobseekers now and that might make up the 3 months.

Tashaf

and would it matter if I was working before I went on the illness benefit to go straight to jobseekers?

Long Term Louth

you could retain your illness benefit and commence a college course ( I think its still the same). You need written permission from the illness benefit section. However if you are cut off illness benefit during the course you may not be entitled to any payment if still attending college.

Tashaf

and is it still possible to apply for the SUSI grant on the illness benefit? I'll be attending a plc course

Long Term Louth

Tashaf wrote: »

and is it still possible to apply for the SUSI grant on the illness benefit? I'll be attending a plc course

It once was, but again this is something you will have to clarify with SUSI or IB, better still citizens advice will resolve you query . I did a PLC in 2009 while on IB, I did not look for the grant as I already possessed a higher qualification. A lot has changed since then.

paperclip2

Tashaf wrote: »

and is it still possible to apply for the SUSI grant on the illness benefit? I'll be attending a plc course

Yes you can get both IB and the grant but if you get the grant it will affect any rent allowance or mortgage interest relief you may be receiving.

You may also be reassessed for the medical card after 3 years.

Info available on the CIC website here: http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/back_to_education/social_welfare_payments_and_the_student_maintenance_grant_for_the_2010_11_academic_year.html

Tashaf

Thanks a million for all the info. Much appreciated

shawnee

Long Term Louth wrote: »

you could retain your illness benefit and commence a college course ( I think its still the same). You need written permission from the illness benefit section. However if you are cut off illness benefit during the course you may not be entitled to any payment if still attending college.

Think that permission takes a long time to come through so perhaps the other route may be more straightforward.