Back to Education Allowance
The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) allows people in receipt of certain social welfare payments to retain those payments whilst participating in approved full-time courses in further and higher education. Qualifying payments for BTEA include Job-Seekers Allowance, Job-Seekers Benefit, Farm Assist, One Parent Family Payment, Disability Allowance and Carer's Allowance.
The Back to Education Allowance replaces an applicant's existing social welfare income and, in addition, participants qualify for an annual €300 cost of education allowance (reduced from €500 as per Budget 2012.). The cost of the Student Contribution Fee (formerly the Student Registration Fee) may also be met by the Exchequer on behalf of BTEA applicants, but they must submit an application for a Higher Education Grant. To apply for a grant, visit the Student finance website.
You can apply for the Back to Education Allowance under a number of different categories including second level and third level. For more information on categories and the Allowance in general click here . The qualifying period to access the allowance was recently changed July 2010) from 12 months down to 9 months for those on a social welfare payment and who want to do a 3rd level course. A 2 year qualifying period continues to apply to participants coming from Illness Benefit.
People awarded statutory redundancy may access the scheme immediately, provided an entitlement to a relevant social welfare payment is established prior to commencing an approved course of study.
Budget 2010 eliminated the dual entitlement to the Back to Education Allowance and the maintenance grant for further and higher education students entering a new programme. From 2010-11, eligible students entering a new course of study in higher education can apply for BTEA or the maintenance grant, but not both.
For more information on this scheme visit the Department of Social Protections website.
