ST VINCENT DE PAUL This organisation provides financial assistance for education and training. Applicants can apply to the Education Officer in the Society of St. Vincent De Paul. In order to apply applicants need to enclose a letter, outlining what they are studying and what factors are inhibiting their studies. Generally this fund is reserved for learners who have not been successful with other agencies. For further information see www.svp.ie TAX RELIEF Tax relief can be claimed on tuition fees up to a maximum fee limit of roughly €5000. Learners can claim up to 20% of course fees back through tax relief. Applicants are advised to contact their local tax office in relation to this and to note that the course must be delivered through or in conjunction with approved institution. To get a full list of approved courses students should visit www. revenue.ie BACK TO EDUCATION ALLOWANCE The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) allows people in receipt of certain social welfare payments to retain those payments whilst participating in approved full-time courses in further and higher education. Qualifying payments for BTEA include JobSeekers Allowance, Job-Seekers Benefit, Farm Assist, One Parent Family Payment, Disability Allowance and Carer’s Allowance. The Back to Education Allowance replaces an applicant’s existing social welfare income and, in addition, participants qualify for an annual €500 cost of education allowance. The cost of the Student Registration Fee will also be met by the Exchequer on behalf of BTEA applicants, but they must submit an application for a Higher Education Grant.
HANDBOOK & DIARY
2013/2014
You can apply for the Back to Education Allowance under a number of different categories including second level and third level. For more information on categories and the Allowance in general visit www.welfare.ie. The qualifying period to access the allowance was recently changed to 9 months for those on a social welfare payment and who want to do a 3rd level course. People awarded statutory redundancy may access the scheme immediately, provided an entitlement to a relevant social welfare payment is established prior to commencing an approved course of study. Budget 2010 eliminated the dual entitlement to the Back to Education Allowance and the maintenance grant for further and higher education students entering a new programme. From 2010-11, eligible students entering a new course of study in higher education can apply for BTEA or the maintenance grant, but not both. Please note that if you are eligible for the BTEA and not the Maintenance Grant, you must still apply for the Maintenance Grant in order to have your registration fee paid for. For certain social welfare payments (e.g. the lone parent allowance), you can continue to receive the same social welfare payment (and not the BTEA), and be eligible for a maintenance grant. Please contact your local welfare office and explore which is the better option for you, as various allowances may also be affected. This will not apply to those in receipt of the Jobseeker’s Allowance. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS SCHEME VISIT WWW.WELFARE.IE
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