UCC Mature Student Finance Information EveningBack to Education Allowance Information Session with Sean Murphy, DSP Cork.

Tuesday 08th July 2014

Sean Murphy,Area Manager – Activation/ Employer Liaison,

Cork Central Division,Department of Social Protection,

Unit 1 Cornmarket Centre13-15 Cornmarket Street

Cork021-4948911

M 086-8248252sean.murphy@welfare.ie

 

Sean.murphy@welfare.ie

Back to Education Allowance Programme

There are three strands to the Back to Education Programme;

Back to Education Allowance(BTEA)

Education , Training and Development (ET&D)

Part Time Education Option (PTEO)

The Back to Education Programmes supports a wide range of courses

from basic courses of education, training or development through to

third level postgraduate courses of study.

First introduced 1990 – covers 2nd and 3rd level

Approx 26,000 participants at end of 2013

cost €189m a year

Over 85 % were previously on a Jobseekers payment

60% 3rd level

Legacy programme – needs constant updating

Operating environment & priorities changes

Other policy/institutional changes

Education provision has changed

.

BTEA figures 2006- 2013

5

Back to Education AllowanceExpenditure Trends 2007-2013…

.

Year Expenditure €m2007 64.142008 77.132009 107.312010 179.852011 201.512012 199.562013 189.30

Back to Education Allowance (BTEA)

BTEA is a second chance educational opportunities non statutory scheme for people on welfare payments who wish to participate in full time education and who would not otherwise be able to do so.

Some of the essential basic eligibility criteria….

To qualify for BTEA a person has to be

• A specific age (in general over 21)

• In receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for a specified period of time (3/9 mths)

• The course must be a full-time day course of study and attended on a full-time basis.

Continued……..

Back to Education Allowance (BTEA)

Continued……..must be….

•Studying at a recognised college leading to a recognised

qualification

•Commencing the first year of a course of study .

•Progressing in the level of education held by the client with

reference to the national framework of qualifications.

A person holding a level 7 degree can only apply for a level 8

add- on year (honours bachelor degree) in the same discipline

and is not eligible for a new level 8 degree course in a different

discipline.

Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) Qualifying payments from FAQ.

Q4. What are qualifying social welfare payments

To qualify for BTEA you must be in receipt of one of the following social welfare

payments for a minimum period; usually 3 months if pursuing a second level

course, or 9 months if pursuing a third level course.

- Jobseeker's Allowance or Jobseeker's Benefit

- Farm Assist

- One-Parent Family Payment

- Deserted Wife's Benefit or Allowance

- Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory)

Pension

- Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Contributory)

Pension

Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) FAQ 4 continued….

- Prisoners Wife's Allowance

- Carer's Allowance

- Blind Pension

- Disability Allowance

- Invalidity Pension

- Incapacity Supplement (based on a life Disablement Pension)

- Illness Benefit (2 years) for both second and third level courses.

- Illness Benefit customers must be getting their payment for two years

before they can qualify for BTEA.

If you have been awarded statutory redundancy under Irish legislation and are entitled

to a qualifying social welfare payment immediately before you start the course you

can get immediate access to the BTEA without any waiting period. You must take part

in the BTEA scheme within one year of getting statutory redundancy and satisfy all

the other scheme conditions.

-Back to Education Allowance (BTEA)

-The Back to Education Allowance can be the option that suits a jobseeker

but a lot depends on individual circumstances.

-However, if you already have a qualification equivalent on the NFQ to the

course you intend to pursue, then ordinarily you will not qualify for BTEA.

-The only post-graduate options eligible under the BTEA are Higher

Diplomas and the Professional Masters in Education. (12 months + on LR

required for PME)

-Back to Education Allowance (BTEA)

-Some common issues arising in the past for those who did not qualify

for BTEA…..

-(Not) Attending a recognised course

-(Not an) Approved college

-(Not) Attending full-time course

-Age

-Qualifying payment & period

-In general first year of course (exceptions)

-Progression in education

Student Grants(SUSI) & the BTEA

From the 2011/12 academic year the Student Grant Scheme is divided

into 2 components – maintenance grants and fee grants. You cannot

get the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) and the maintenance

component of a student grant together unless you were getting BTEA in

the 2009/10 academic year and are continuing your studies or

progressing to a new course

Although you are not entitled to the maintenance component of the

student grant if in receipt of BTEA, you must still submit a student grant

application form to be assessed for a fee grant to pay your Student

Contribution (formerly called the student services charge), field trip

costs and tuition fees (if payable).

Student Grants(SUSI) & the BTEA

If you are getting a One Parent Family Payment or a disability payment (Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension or Illness Benefit) you can choose to stay on your current social welfare payment and apply for a student grant or you can choose to transfer to the BTEA. This can have important implications for other payments, in particular rent allowance. You should consult with your Community Welfare Officer if currently in receipt of rent allowance and contemplating attending a full time course of education.

See www.studentfinance.ie for information.

IMPORTANT CHANGES ARISING FROM BUDGET 2013

Payments for new entrants to the BTEA scheme are no longer uprated to the maximum individual rate of €188.

Means will continue to apply for those over 25

For those under 25, payments will be uprated to maximum €160pw, minus any means.

Cost of Education Allowance abolished for all from 1st Jan 2013.

2014 changes for BTEA……From http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Publications-Employment-Supports.aspx &http://www.welfare.ie/en/downloads/Review%20of%20Employment%20Support%20Schemes.pdf

Minister for DSP announced changes on 15th May 2014,http://www.welfare.ie/en/pressoffice/Pages/pr150514.aspx

• Always get the latest information on www.welfare.ie

2014 changes for BTEA……The key enhancements being introduced include:

- Applicants wishing to pursue the new Professional Master’s in Education

will be able to avail of the BTE programme; (but must have 12 months + on LR)

- Applicants who already hold a Level 5 or 6 qualification under the

National Framework of Qualifications will now be allowed to undertake further

courses of study at either of these levels to further their professional/career

development and their overall job prospects subject to agreement and approval of a

case officer.

- Confirmation that applicants for the Department of Education’s

Springboard and Momentum initiatives in the forthcoming academic year will be

supported under the BTE programme; and

- Revised application and selection processes and a stronger role for the

Department in working with unemployed clients who are considering undertaking a

course of study.

2014 changes for BTEA……The key change for those intending to avail of third level is the last point.

- Revised application and selection processes and a stronger role for the

Department in working with unemployed clients who are considering undertaking

a course of study.

- All new BTEA claims from those on a Jobseekers payment must be approved

and recommended by a Case Officer.

- What this means is that there will no longer be self selection for courses on basis

of basic eligibility criteria only…Department now takes an active interest in what

course you intend to pursue, and takes into account a number of factors in

determining whether a case officer recommends access to BTEA.

- Among the criteria to be assessed by the Case officer is that BTEA eligibility

criteria are satisfied and that the new course is career orientated and consistent

with future skills needs and/or local demand.

- See http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Back-to-Education-Allowance-Scheme.aspx

How to apply…….

A person should apply for the course of their choice

When accepted, complete BTE1 form which is available at http://www.welfare.ie/en/pdf/bte1.pdf

and return to relevant SW office.

How to apply…….

- Please make sure you have most up to date version of application

form, dated June 2014.- Please be sure to fill in Q.22 in

particular and give relevant detail…(essentially why this course will get you back into

employment and off the LR….)

Any Questions!

Sean.murphy@welfare.ie