The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) is a scheme that allows persons in receipt of certain social welfare payments the opportunity to pursue a course of study, while still maintaining their income support, subject to satisfying a number of conditions, one of which is the progression to a higher level of education than that already held by the applicant.
The BTEA scheme is designed to support 'second-chance' education. Applicants who already hold a degree are therefore not eligible to commence a new three- or four-year level 8 degree course in a different discipline. As such, the only option for an applicant who already holds a degree relates to an applicant who holds a level 7 ordinary degree. Such applicants may apply for a one year add-on honours degree course: in these circumstances, progression to a level 8 higher diploma may be approved.
The guidelines governing such progression under the operation of the BTEA are, in the main, in line with the mechanisms in place for student support-type schemes administered by the Department of Education and Skills; and the requirement of progression in education as a condition to access BTEA is not unique , as other State supports for education purposes are grounded on a similar basis.
The person concerned already holds a Level 7 degree and is now pursuing a level 8 full-time degree course of study in a different discipline. As such, a decision has been made that he is not entitled to support under the BTEA scheme guidelines. This decision to refuse BTEA has been upheld following a full review of the claim.
The Deputy will be aware that, in normal instances, third-level students cannot claim Jobseeker's Allowance or Jobseeker's Benefit while they are studying full-time. On this basis the Jobseekers application of the person concerned was refused.
The person concerned made an application for a Covid Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) in October 2020, when an employment he was undertaking terminated. He is currently in receipt of a weekly Covid PUP of €350. He will continue to receive this payment as a student who has lost his employment based on the scheme guidelines; however once the Covid PUP ends, he will not be entitled to claim BTEA (based on the original decision, as upheld following review); and will not have an entitlement to Jobseekers payments if he is a full-time student at that time.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
