Back to Education Allowance

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 December 2020

Tuesday, 8 December 2020

Questions (397)

Seán Canney

Question:

397. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider amending the back to education allowance scheme, BTEA, in relation to the cost of education allowance to allow two members of the same household to receive the payment; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that students returning to college under the scheme had done so in the belief that they would each receive the allowance but were informed that in cases in which the primary customer and qualified adult are engaged with BTEA, the maximum rate of payment is €500 per academic year; if her attention has been further drawn to the fact that this household limitation is not well advertised (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41776/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

From 1st September 2017 the Cost of Education allowance of €500 per academic year is payable to all BTEA customers with a qualified child payment on their claim subject to fulfilling all conditions on the primary scheme.

Where both the primary customer and the qualified adult are engaged with BTEA the maximum rate of payment of the Cost of Education Allowance in respect of their combined claims is €500 per academic year.

As the persons concerned are in receipt of primary payments in their own right and claiming half rate increases for qualified children, their claims will be reviewed and a review decision will issue in due course.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.