Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2020
851. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason persons on the pandemic unemployment payment are restricted to undergoing a night-time or online course and not a full-time day course; if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties faced by persons who have limited options available to them; the changes to the current situation under level 5 lockdown; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32511/20]
View answerThe Department’s Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) provides income support for jobseekers and certain others in receipt of social welfare payments who pursue full-time courses of education at second or third level. The main focus of the allowance is to assist qualifying applicants to improve their educational qualifications and their prospects of gaining employment.
The BTEA has been extended as part of the July Stimulus in response to Covid-19. Ordinarily a person must be in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for a minimum period before being eligible to apply for the BTEA when pursuing training or education. The qualifying period has been waived for people coming from the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP). This ensures that those who have lost their employment during the pandemic have immediate access to a range of educational options.
In order to avail of continued financial support while pursuing a full-time course, a person in receipt of the PUP should apply for a jobseeker payment. The BTEA is payable at the jobseekers rate. Whereas the PUP is short term in nature, the Back to Education Allowance may provide longer term income support depending on the individual’s circumstances.
Where someone in receipt of PUP wishes to pursue short term or part-time study they can continue to receive PUP while they continue to satisfy the conditions of that payment.
Any person seeking to return to education should engage with their local Intreo Centre to assess their options.
I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
