Back to Education Allowance Eligibility

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 November 2013

Wednesday, 13 November 2013

Questions (86)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

86. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the refusal of back to education allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who was refused on the basis of not being in receipt of jobseeker's allowance when they were out of work for two years but who would have been in receipt of jobseeker's allowance were it not for the fact that they suffered a health setback and received disability allowance instead; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48447/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

A person wishing to pursue a course of study under the back to education allowance scheme will have to satisfy a number of conditions such as being a certain age, in receipt of a prescribed social welfare payment for a specified time period, pursuing a full time course of study.

Currently the period for which a person is required to be on a qualifying social welfare payment, such as jobseekers, before assessing the third level option is 9 months (234 days) and 3 months (78 days) for second level option. Periods spent on relevant social welfare payments or on jobseekers/illness benefit credits that are not broken by more than 12 months (52 weeks), can be used in determining if an applicant satisfies the qualifying period criteria.

The person concerned made an application for back to education allowance on 3rd October, 2013. His application was refused as he was not in receipt of a prescribed Social Welfare payment immediately prior to the official commencement date of his course. He was notified of this decision on 7th October, 2013.

Question No. 87 withdrawn.