Information on financial support for further and higher education in 2010-11 for those on social welfare or BTEA.
From September 2010, students entering or progressing to a new course who are in receipt of Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) will no longer be eligible for the maintenance element of the student grant. Students in receipt of the BTEA and maintenance in the 2009-10 academic year will continue to be eligible to receive both payments for the duration of their current course provided they meet the terms and conditions of both schemes.
This information has been prepared to assist people on social welfare payments who are entering or continuing with full-time education in the 2010-11 academic year in assessing their options for income support and other entitlements.
Student Services Charge and Tuition Fees
The change to take effect from September 2010 does not affect the entitlement of BTEA-holders to apply for payment of the Student Services Charge (also known as the registration fee) and, where appropriate, course tuition fees. Please note, however, that BTEA-holders are not guaranteed to qualify for payment of the Student Services Charge, only those meeting the terms and conditions of the grant scheme. BTEA-holders applying for the Student Service Charge and for fees should complete a grant application form in full as early as possible and submit to their Local Authority or VEC.
Persons on Jobseekers Allowance or Jobseekers Benefit
If you are getting Jobseekers Allowance (JA) or Jobseekers Benefit (JB), you must transfer to BTEA to retain the income support (including secondary benefits) during full-time education. The reason for this is that when participating in full-time education you cannot be genuinely available for and seeking employment. Once you transfer from JA or JB onto the BTEA, you will not be eligible for maintenance from the student grant schemes, however you can apply to the schemes to have the Student Service Charge paid on your behalf (if you qualify). In addition, your BTEA support will include a Cost of Education allowance of €500 for each academic year of your programme.
It is possible to retain JA or JB whilst participating in a part-time education programme, as long as you continue to be genuinely available for work and seeking employment. You should consult with your local Social Protection Office facilitator prior to taking up a part-time education programme.
Social welfare payments and the BTEA
People in receipt of a number of social welfare payments can enter full-time education and continue to get their current payment. Individuals on the following payments are NOT automatically required to transfer to the BTEA when returning to full-time education:
- One Parent Family Payment
- Disability Allowance
- Invalidity Pension
- Illness Benefit
When considering plans for returning to full-time education, persons on the above payments can choose one of two options:
Option A: Transfer to BTEA
- Receive a payment equivalent to the maximum standard rate of the current payment;
- Receive a cost of education allowance, currently €500, for each academic year of the approved course;
- Not be eligible for maintenance under the student grant scheme;
- Apply to the student grant scheme for the Student Services Charge (and, where appropriate, tuition fees);
- Be able to work part-time without it affecting your BTEA payment;
- In general, retain secondary benefits. Note: If you are in receipt of rent supplement or mortgage interest supplement and your income increases, you will be re-assessed for these benefits;
- If you have a medical card, you are entitled to retain it during your participation on BTEA.
Option B: Continue to get One-Parent Family Payment, Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension or Illness Benefit
- Retain your existing payment;
- Be entitled to apply for both maintenance and the Student Service Charge under the student grant scheme. (Note: applicants on social welfare do not automatically qualify for the student grant);
- Not be eligible for a Cost of Education Allowance;
- In general, lose rent supplement or mortgage interest supplement, where applicable, by reason of being in full-time education;
- If you have a medical card, you are entitled to retain it for a period of three years from the date of entry to full-time education, after which you will be re-assessed.
In relation to One Parent Family Payment, remember that changes in family circumstances during your participation in full-time education might affect your eligibility for the payment (for example, if a child no longer lives with you or reaches the age of 18 and is not in full-time education). If you transfer to BTEA, your payment is guaranteed for the duration of your participation on an approved course. You should factor any such changes into your planning for income support during your course participation.
If you are in receipt of one of the social protection payments listed above, you should carefully assess what choice (i.e. staying on the payment OR transferring to BTEA) is the best one for you given your particular circumstances.
Signing on for credits only and the student grant
If you are signing on for credits only and you meet the qualifying period, you can participate in the BTEA on a non-payment basis and receive the Cost of Education Allowance. In addition, such candidates can apply for maintenance under the student grant scheme because they are not in receipt of income support from the Department of Social Protection.
Progression by those currently in receipt of BTEA and the student grant
If you are currently in receipt of both the BTEA and maintenance and are taking part in an approved full-time course, you will continue to be eligible to receive both payments for the entire duration of your current course.
If you have completed a course and now wish to progress to a course at a higher level, you can continue to retain your BTEA payment (generally up to and including Level 8 on the NFQ) however you will no longer be entitled to the maintenance element of the student grant. You can apply under the grant scheme to have the Student Service Charge paid on your behalf and, where appropriate, tuition fees. The loss of entitlement to apply for maintenance for BTEA-holders applies in all the following progression routes:
- From FETAC Level 5 to FETAC Level 6;
- From FETAC Level 5/6 to Higher Education Levels 6, 7, or 8;
- From Higher Education Level 6 to Higher Education Levels 7 or 8;
- From Higher Education Level 8 to Postgraduate Level 9*.
There is one exception to the general approach: if you are in receipt of both BTEA and maintenance and wish to progress, without a break in studies, from a Level 7 Ordinary Degree to a one-year ‘add-on’ Level 8 Honours Degree, you can continue to avail of both BTEA and maintenance for the ‘add-on’ year.
*A limited number of postgraduate courses are approved courses for BTEA. Students in receipt of BTEA during their undergraduate programme who progress to a postgraduate qualification not approved for BTEA can of course apply for maintenance (and tuition fees) under the student grant and may qualify if they meet the terms and conditions of the scheme.
Progression from Access Courses
Students who completed a higher education access or foundation course in 2009-10 and who received BTEA during the course can retain their BTEA payment and associated benefits if they progress to an approved course at Level 6, 7 or 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications. However as they are entering a new course in 2010-11, they are not entitled to apply for maintenance.
Breaks or repeats in study and entitlement to BTEA and the student grant
If you were getting the BTEA and maintenance during participation on a full-time course in a previous academic year but in 2009-10 you were either:
(i) repeating a year, or
(ii) had deferred your studies for 2009-10, with the approval of the college
you can resume your studies, on the same course in the same college, in 2010-11 and retain both the BTEA and maintenance as long as you continue to meet the terms and conditions of both schemes (including, in the case of the BTEA, meeting the qualifying period for BTEA at the point at which you wish to return to college after a year’s break. Pursuing employment or travel options during the deferral year may result in you being ineligible for receipt of BTEA in 2010-11 because you were not in receipt of a linked social welfare payment for the necessary period of time during the 2009-10 year).
Entitlement to maintenance as well as BTEA would not apply if you decided not to continue with the course you were pursuing in 2008-9 but instead enrol in a new course in 2010-11.
Applying for BTEA
Once you have accepted a place on an approved course, you should immediately notify the Department of Social Protection by completing form BTE1, which is available on www.welfare.ie, and sending it in to your local social welfare office. Once you enrol in your chosen course you should obtain written confirmation from the college (Registrar or Admission Officer only) that you are registered as a full-time day student and provide this confirmation to your local office. You cannot be transferred onto BTEA, nor can you avail of the Cost of Education allowance until your local office receives this confirmation letter. You may not be fully registered if your college is awaiting payment of the Registration Fee (Student Services Charge) from your Local Authority or VEC, however the college can provide an appropriately-worded letter for the attention of your local office which will suffice for the purposes of BTEA activation.
Student Assistance Fund
Students enrolled in college who experience financial hardship can make application through the Access Office or the Student Services Office to the Student Assistance Fund. The fund is allocated to higher education institutions to enable them to assist students with either temporary or more ongoing financial difficulties. Decisions on applications are made by each college and those students most-in need are prioritised for support.
Case Studies
The following case studies are designed to illustrate further the options available to people on different types of social welfare payments and the pluses and minuses associated with each option.
A: I’m getting a Jobseeker’s Allowance and starting a full-time course in further or higher education:
You cannot get Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) and attend full time education. If you are getting Jobseeker’s Allowance you should apply for the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA). If you qualify, your rate of payment on BTEA will be the same as the maximum rate of Jobseeker’s Allowance and you will keep any secondary benefits you are getting. However, moving from a reduced rate of JA to the maximum rate of JA may affect Rent Supplement or Mortgage Interest Supplement. You will not get a maintenance grant with BTEA, but you will be financially better off on BTEA than you would be on the maintenance grant alone. You will get an annual Cost of Education Allowance (also known as a book grant). Income from paid employment will not affect your BTEA or your secondary benefits, except for Rent Supplement or Mortgage Interest Supplement.
You must still apply to your local authority or VEC, using the student grant form, to be assessed for the student service charge and, where appropriate, tuition fees. You should submit your application immediately.
B: I’m getting a One-Parent Family Payment and starting a full-time course in further or higher education:
If you are getting a One-Parent Family Payment you have two options and you need to work out which will give you the higher income.
1. You can stay on your One-Parent Family Payment and apply for a maintenance grant. If you choose this option you will continue to get your One-Parent Family Payment at your current rate and may qualify for the maintenance grant. However, you will lose any secondary benefits you are getting such as Rent Supplement or Mortgage Interest Supplement. If you are nearing the end of your entitlement to One Parent Family Payment, the BTEA may be of greater benefit to you because it is paid for the duration of your course.
2. You can transfer from your One-Parent Family Payment to the BTEA. If you choose this option and qualify for BTEA, you will not get a maintenance grant but you will get a Cost of Education Allowance (also known as a book grant). Your rate of payment on BTEA will be the same as the maximum rate of One-Parent Family Payment and you can keep many secondary benefits you may be getting. Moving from a reduced rate of One Parent Family Payment to the maximum rate may affect Rent Supplement or Mortgage Interest Supplement. Income from paid employment will not affect your BTEA or secondary benefits except for Rent Supplement or Mortgage Interest Supplement.
You must still apply to your local authority or VEC, using the student grant form, to be assessed for the student service charge and, where appropriate, course tuition fees. You should submit your application immediately.
C: I’m getting a Disability Allowance and starting a full-time course in further or higher education
If you are getting a Disability Allowance (DA) you have two options and you need to work out which will give you the higher income.
1. You can stay on your Disability Allowance and apply for a maintenance grant. If you choose this option you will continue to get your Disability Allowance at your current rate. However, you will lose any secondary benefits you are already getting such as Rent Supplement or Mortgage Interest Supplement. If you are living at home, your parents’ income could affect the amount of maintenance grant you get. It may mean you get a reduced maintenance grant, or just the Student Services Charge, or neither.
2. You can transfer from your Disability Allowance to the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA). If you choose this option and qualify for BTEA you will not get a maintenance grant but you will get a Cost of Education Allowance (also known as a book grant). Your rate of payment on BTEA will be the same as the maximum rate of Disability Allowance and you can keep many secondary benefits you may be getting. Moving from a reduced rate of DA to the maximum rate of DA may affect Rent Supplement or Mortgage Interest Supplement. Income from paid employment will not affect your BTEA or your secondary benefits except for Rent Supplement or Mortgage Interest Supplement.
You must still apply to your local authority or VEC, using the student grant form, to be assessed for the student service charge and, where appropriate, tuition fees. You should submit your application immediately.
This information section is a collaboration of the following agencies/organisations:
ACCESS MADE ACCESSIBLE NETWORK
