Written answers

Tuesday, 18 February 2014

Department of Social Protection

Back to Education Allowance Eligibility

Photo of James BannonJames Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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355. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason an application for the back to school grant was denied in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7876/14]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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To receive the back to education allowance (BTEA), a person must satisfy a number of conditions such as being a certain age; in receipt of a prescribed social welfare payment for a specified time period; pursuing a full time course of study leading to a recognised qualification in a recognised college; and progressing in the level of education currently held with reference to the national framework of qualifications, among others.

Budget 2013 introduced some changes to the BTEA scheme with effect from 1st January 2013.

A person who defers a year is defined as a new entrant to the scheme rather than being linked to a previous entitlement unless there are exceptional circumstances such as illness or other force majeure circumstances. This is in line with the Department of Education and Skills policy.

The person concerned was in receipt of jobseekers benefit prior to making an application for BTEA for the 2011/12 academic year. Her application was approved.

She did not pass all of her exams at the end of the 2011/12 academic year and she decided to repeat at the end of the 2012/13 academic year. As she was not a full-time student during this period she applied for jobseekers allowance but did not qualify as she had means in excess of the limit for receipt of the payment. She signed for jobseekers credits instead. A person signing for jobseekers credits does not receive any payment from the department.

She re-sat and passed her examinations and returned to college for the 2013/14 academic year. She made an application for BTEA on 1st September, 2013. The BTEA replaces the existing payment for a customer. As the person concerned was not receiving a payment – she was signing for jobseekers credits, there was no payment to replace. She was notified of this decision on 11th November, 2013.

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