JSA - if 0 payment, can back to education allowance be claimed?

[dubinamerica]

hi - currently awaiting job seekers benefit to be processed and looking into option of doing a postgrad but timeline is out for BTEA (would not be on benefit for 9 months by the time the courses commence in around sept/oct 2009)..

If i were to move on JSA towards end of this year, and received no payment (due to not meeting criteria), can I still claim BTEA and receive payment say for academic year 2010/2011?

Does BTEA, cover the cost of fees?

 

[gipimann]

You should first check that your postgrad will qualify for BTEA in the first place - see the following from the SW website:

If you already have an undergraduate third-level qualification, (i.e., you already have a degree) your application for a Back to Education Allowance while pursuing post-graduate education will only be considered if you are doing certain courses. There have been much changes in this area in the past few months. You should get in touch directly with the Back to Education Allowance Section at the Department of Social and Family Affairs to check the current position.

I'm a bit unclear as to what you mean about not meeting the criteria for Jobseeker's Allowance - if you don't meet the criteria, then you won't have a claim.

 

[Welfarite]

Short answer is, you must satisfy a means test to get on BTEA and if you don't satisfy it on JA then you won't for BTEA