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Social Welfare Eligibility

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 November 2021

Tuesday, 16 November 2021

Questions (404)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

404. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason 234 calendar days is not used to assess eligibility for the back to education allowance; if 234 calendar days are not being used, if 273 calendar days are being used; if so, if this can be stated clearly on the website of her Department; if it is the case that recipients of the pandemic unemployment payment automatically qualify for the back to education allowance, whereas persons who were made redundant during the Covid-19 pandemic do not; if so, the reason for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56109/21]

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Written answers

The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) provides income support for jobseekers and certain others in receipt of social welfare payments who pursue courses of education at second or third level, subject to meeting the qualifying conditions.

To qualify for BTEA, a person must be in receipt of a social welfare payment for a minimum period of 3 months if pursuing a 2nd level course, or 9 months prior to the date of commencement of their 3rd level course.

Jobseekers who are awarded statutory redundancy may have access to the BTEA Scheme immediately on being made redundant or within one year of the award of Statutory Redundancy. The qualifying period was also waived for recipients of PUP. A jobseeker including a PUP recipient must first establish an entitlement to a BTEA qualifying social welfare payment immediately prior to the commencement of an approved course of study.

The criteria for the period of time on a claim is determined with reference to a customer’s underlying entitlement to their primary scheme. If a person is fully unemployed, the 3 and 9 month criteria refers to the calendar period. However, if a person is partially unemployed and receiving jobseeker payments for specific days, for example in the case of part-time or casual employment, this calendar period is extended. This period is extended such that the 234 days requirement for a third level course is met.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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