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Social Welfare Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 July 2021

Tuesday, 6 July 2021

Questions (346)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

346. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the eligibility for the back to education allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36020/21]

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Written answers

If a person is unemployed, parenting alone or has a disability and is in receipt of certain payments from my department, they can take part in a second-or third-level education course and receive a Back to Education Allowance (BTEA). If attending a second-level course, a person must be in receipt of a qualifying payment for 3 months or more and if attending a third-level course, 9 months or more. As the person concerned is not currently in receipt of a qualifying payment, he is not eligible to apply for BTEA.

The person concerned submitted an online application for a Jobseeker’s Allowance payment with effect from 17/12/2020. On 21/12/2020 he was requested to provide further information in order to progress his application. The information requested included completing parts of the online application regarding parental income, a letter from the ETB confirming the end date of a course, a letter from Maynooth University confirming course name, start date, duration, part or full time and expected end date and completion and uploading of a form UP1F regarding details of self-employment.

My officials have advised that the requested information remained outstanding and as the application could not be progressed, the claim was closed on 18/02/2021.

There is no record of further correspondence or a recent application for the person concerned with my department. It is open to the person concerned to submit a new application at mywelfare.ie and include all relevant documentation in support of his application.

If the person concerned is experiencing financial difficulties, he can contact his local Community Welfare Service in Maynooth where his circumstances will be assessed. The Community Welfare Service can be contacted by email at kildarecws@welfare.ie. Further information and an application form for an Exceptional Needs Payment can be found at www.gov.ie/dsp.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

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