You might be eligible for the Back to Education Allowance

IF YOU are unemployed, parenting alone or have a disability and are getting certain payments from the Department of Social Protection, you may attend a second or third level education course and get the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA).

Since 2016-17, Back to Education Allowance is only paid for courses that start in Ireland or in Northern Ireland. However, you can be paid a Back to Education Allowance for a year abroad (for example, under the Erasmus+ Program) if the year is an integral or mandatory part of your course. This must be verified by the registrar or admissions office of your college.

You must be at least 21 years of age to get Back to Education Allowance (24 if applying for a postgraduate course). If attending a second level course, you must have been on one of the below for three months or more.

In the case of a One-Parent Family Payment client or a person in receipt of the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment the applicant must be aged at least 18 years.

If attending a third level course, you must have been getting one of the below payments for nine months or more:

Jobseeker’s Allowance or Jobseeker’s Benefit

Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment

l Farm Assist

l One-Parent Family Payment

l 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

l Prisoner’s Wife’s Allowance

l Carer’s Allowance

l Blind Pension

l Disability Allowance

l Invalidity Pension

l Incapacity Supplement (based on a life Disablement Pension)

Illness Benefit

You do not have to have been getting your qualifying payment continuously. You can have a break of up to 12 months from the payment but you must be on the payment immediately before starting the course.

Time spent on Youthreach can count towards the qualifying period if you can establish an entitlement to a qualifying

lllllsocial welfare payment before or after completing the Youthreach programme.

Time spent in prison in the Irish state can count towards the qualifying period provided you establish an entitlement to a qualifying social welfare payment.

Time spent on Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) or on direct provision can count towards the qualifying period for Back to Education Allowance. This only applies if you can establish an entitlement to a qualifying social welfare payment immediately before you start your course of study and satisfy the linking rules.

If you have been awarded statutory redundancy and are entitled to a qualifying social welfare payment immediately before you start the course, you can get immediate access to Back to Education Allowance without any waiting period. You must take part in the Back to Education Allowance scheme within one year of getting statutory redundancy and satisfy all the other conditions.

If you qualify, you can keep any extra benefits you already have, such as Fuel Allowance or Rent Supplement.

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