Quick facts
- Rate
- The same as your qualifying payment
- With a child
- €500 a year Cost of Education Allowance
- Deadline
- Before the course, or within 30 days of it starting
- Age
- Over 21 (over 24 for postgrad), with exceptions
- Waiting time
- 3 months for further ed, 9 for higher ed
- Keeps
- Fuel Allowance, Rent Supplement
What you get
"It is paid instead of your social welfare payment at the same rate as your qualifying social welfare payment." It can include increases for a qualified adult and children.
"You get an annual Cost of Education Allowance of €500 if you are getting BTEA and you have a dependent child." It is €500 per household, and not paid if your qualifying payment is Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit.
Under 25 on a reduced jobseeker's rate? "If you are aged under 25 and getting a reduced Jobseeker's Allowance payment because of your age, your payment will increase to €254."
"If you qualify for the Back to Education Allowance, you can keep your entitlement to any extra benefits you already have (for example, Fuel Allowance or Rent Supplement )."
Who qualifies
You must be over 21 (over 24 for postgraduate courses), getting a qualifying payment, and accepted onto a qualifying course. Qualifying payments include:
- Jobseeker's Allowance, Jobseeker's Benefit and Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit
- One-Parent Family Payment and Jobseeker's Transitional Payment
- Carer's Allowance, Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension and Blind Pension
- Farm Assist and the Bereaved Partner's Pensions
You must have been on a qualifying payment for a set time first: 3 months for a further education course and 9 months for a higher education course. "You must be getting the qualifying payment immediately before you start the course."
Made redundant? Statutory redundancy lets you skip the waiting time, if you start within a year of it.
"If you get Working Family Payment (WFP) , you are not eligible for BTEA."
Which courses count
Full-time further education up to Level 6, such as a Leaving Cert or PLC course, or a full-time higher education course approved for the student grant or by QQI.
You have to move up a level. "For example, if you already have a Level 6 qualification on the National Framework of Qualifications, the course you attend must be for at least a Level 7 qualification." "You cannot get BTEA for a new Level 8 degree course."
BTEA and the SUSI grant
"You cannot get the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) and the maintenance part of a student grant together."
Still apply to SUSI. "While you can’t get the maintenance part of the student grant, you must still submit a student grant application form to be assessed for a fee grant." The fee grant can pay your student contribution.
On One-Parent Family Payment, Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension or Illness Benefit? You can choose: move to BTEA, or stay on your payment and apply for the full student grant. Pick whichever pays more.
Working, and the summer
"You cannot work full-time, but you may work part-time, except if your qualifying payment is Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit."
"If you were getting a jobseeker’s payment before going back to education, you are not paid BTEA during the summer months between academic years." If you came from One-Parent Family Payment or a disability payment, it continues over the summer.
How to apply
Fill in form BTE1. If you are a jobseeker making a new claim, you need a recommendation from your Employment Personal Advisor or Job Coach.
"You must apply for BTEA before your course starts, or within 30 days of the course starting."
Common questions
How much is the Back to Education Allowance?
The same rate as your qualifying social welfare payment, plus a Cost of Education Allowance of €500 a year if you have a dependent child.
When do I have to apply for BTEA?
Before your course starts, or within 30 days of the course starting.
Can I get BTEA and the SUSI grant?
Not the maintenance grant. But you should still apply to SUSI to be assessed for a fee grant.
Can I work while on BTEA?
Part-time, yes, unless your qualifying payment is Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit. You cannot work full-time.
Is BTEA paid over the summer?
Not if you came from a jobseeker's payment. It continues over the summer if you came from One-Parent Family Payment, Jobseeker's Transitional Payment or a disability payment and are going back to an approved course.
Can I get BTEA on Working Family Payment?
No. If you get Working Family Payment, you are not eligible for BTEA.