The Back to Education Allowance scheme (BTEA) is a full-time education support available to jobseekers. It is a non-statutory scheme operated by the Department which is designed to enable jobseekers to take up full-time education opportunities while continuing to receive income support related to standard jobseeker schemes. Ordinarily a person must be in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for a minimum period, which is generally between 3 and 9 months in normal circumstances, before being eligible to apply for this support. Exceptionally, this scheme was extended as part of the July Stimulus in response to Covid-19 whereby the qualification period for PUP recipients is waived in these cases. This ensures that those who have lost their employment during the pandemic have immediate access to a range of educational options.
A PUP recipient who wishes to participate in a full time Springboard+ course must transfer to a jobseekers payment if they want to apply for the BTEA. Their rate of BTEA payment will be linked to their qualifying jobseekers rate of payment.
Applicants in receipt of PUP who apply for part-time
courses can retain their PUP payment as long as they continue to satisfy the conditions for PUP.
Any person seeking to return to education is advised to engage with their local Intreo Centre to assess their options.
I trust this clarifies the position.
