Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 June 2022
398. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if any changes will be made to the qualification criteria for the back to education allowance for older workers who decided to return to education having lost or left their job due to the impact of the Covid-19 crisis. [31398/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) provides income support for jobseekers and others in receipt of certain social welfare payments who pursue courses of education at second or third level. The provision for the scheme for 2022 is €105.4 million.
A person wishing to pursue a course of study under the BTEA scheme must satisfy the conditions of the scheme, including being in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for a specified time, pursuing a full-time course of study leading to a recognised qualification in a recognised college and progressing in the level of education.
The qualifying period for the second-level option is three months while the qualifying period for third-level courses is nine months prior to the date of commencement of the course. Time spent on PUP is considered as part of the assessment of the qualifying time condition and those who transitioned from PUP to standard jobseekers are eligible for support under the Back to Education Allowance.
Jobseekers awarded Statutory Redundancy under the Redundancy Payments Acts 1967 - 2012 have access to the BTEA Scheme immediately on being made redundant or within one year of the award of Statutory Redundancy.
There are no further plans at this time to make any changes to the eligibility for this support.
The Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) Grant, payable by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, is the primary support for people pursuing third level education.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
