Hi I’m enquiring on behalf of my son (28 years old) who by good chance was able to work for a finance company for 5 years straight after school. He discovered a love of accountancy while working there but when the company folded up, he had no chance of getting work as he had no qualifications to show. Now he wants to return to education as mature student and is hoping to be able to avail of the grants to do this. Apparently he will need to be receiving welfare for 8 months in order to qualify for a grant. He is currently almost 7 months on welfare but I heard that in his case he would be entitled to work 2 days a week legally. This is why I am here. Can anyone inform me what is the position? Many thanks.
Students on Back to Education Allowance will have any income from work assessed as means, which might affect their payment.
The rules changed in 2016-17, before that year, students could work part-time and retain all of their allowance.
More details here
The Back to Education Allowance scheme helps people who are unemployed, are getting a One-Parent Family Payment or have a disability, to attend approved second-or third-level education courses.