Time spent on particular schemes or in particular circumstances may count towards the six- or twelve-month qualifying periods specified in this section.
- Time spent on BTEI, VTOS, FÁS/Fáilte Ireland Training course, Youthreach, FIT, Community Employment Schemes, Social Economy Programme, Rural Social Scheme, Back to Work Scheme, FÁS Job Initiative or Job Assist may count towards the qualifying period. You may go directly from one of the above schemes to Back to Education Allowance, provided you were getting one of the qualifying social welfare payments listed in the ‘Check your Eligibility’ section before you started the scheme. You must start your approved course of study within four weeks of leaving the scheme. If you are not on one of the above schemes you must be getting a qualifying social welfare payment immediately before starting an approved course of study.
- Time spent on Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) or Direct Provision from the Health Service Executive can count towards the qualifying period for BTEA, provided an entitlement to a relevant social welfare payment is established before the commencement of the course of education.
- Time spent in prison can be taken to count towards the qualifying period for BTEA, provided an underlying entitlement to a relevant social welfare payment is established prior to commencing an approved course of education.
- Sunday is not counted as a day of unemployment; the Department of Social and Family Affairs disregard Sundays when counting the number of days of unemployment.
