Publication
Operational Guidelines: Education, Training and Development
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
As part of its Social and Family Support Services, the Department of Social Protection provides a wide range of second chance education opportunities for unemployed people, lone parents and people with disabilities.
The Department's objective in this area is to raise educational and skills level among the long term unemployed, in order to help them to meet the requirements of the modern labour market. Studies have shown that there is a strong link between unemployment and educational attainment and this Department's Back To Education Programmes were introduced to provide a comprehensive range of options from which an unemployed person can choose, or be directed to, the most appropriate for his/her needs.
The Back To Education Programmes range from basic courses of education, training or development through to third level postgraduate courses of study, and are:
Legislation
Article 120 of Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims, Payments and Control) Regulations, 2007 (S.I. 142 0f 2007) as amended. Statutory conditions administered by JA/JB Schemes
Administration
The Education, Training and Development (E,T&D) is administered by:
Description Of Option
The qualifying conditions for receipt of Jobseekers Allowance or Jobseekers Benefit require a person to be available for and genuinely seeking full-time employment. A person pursuing a full-time course of study would not satisfy this condition and, therefore, would not qualify for Jobseekers Allowance or Jobseekers Benefit.
However, under the Education, Training and Development (ET&D) Option of the Back To Education Programmes, a person may continue to receive, subject to satisfying certain conditions, his/her Jobseekers Allowance or Jobseekers Benefit while attending certain courses of education, training or development.
It should be noted that, unlike the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) Scheme, this option is not a stand alone scheme. Persons who qualify under the ET&D option continue to be paid Jobseekers Allowance or Jobseekers Benefit, as appropriate, and are deemed to be available for employment for the duration of the course of education, training or development.
Approved Courses
Courses which are not recognised for BTEA Second and Third Level Options, and which are being pursued at an institution which is funded wholly or partly by state agencies may be approved if they lead to improved employment prospects on completion.
NOTE: Particular attention should be paid to the difference between a course which is recognised for BTEA purposes, and a participant who does not qualify for BTEA due to failing one or more of the qualifying conditions. For example, a person who participates in a full-time degree course in a recognised University, but who fails to qualify for BTEA on the grounds that s/he is already the holder of an equivalent qualification, would not normally be considered to be a suitable candidate for the ET&D option.
Courses in a private institute of education will not be approved under the ET&D option unless it is a course approved and recommended as leading to employment on completion by a Partnership, in a Partnership Area.
Study Options available
A broad range of courses may be approved under the Education, Training and Development Option:
Qualifying Conditions
In order to qualify for retention of Jobseekers Allowance or Jobseekers Benefit under the Education, Training and Development Option a person must, immediately prior to commencing an approved course be:
NOTE: A person in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance or Jobseekers Benefit wishing to avail of the ET&D option as an early school leaver must supply, to the Case Officer/Jobcoach written evidence from their former school/college of their previous educational qualifications and date of leaving formal education.
Jobseekers Allowance/Jobseekers Benefit
Claimants approved for this option are deemed to be available for work and may attend a course of education, training or development while continuing in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance or Jobseekers Benefit.
Note: All other conditions for receipt of Jobseekers Allowance or Jobseekers Benefit must continue to be satisfied.
Special Provisions
Rates of payment
The Education, Training and Development Option does not involve any special payment or allowance. Participants continue to be eligible for their Jobseekers Allowance or Jobseekers Benefit while attending an approved course, provided that they would otherwise have an entitlement. Payment should continue by the same method as prior to approval.
Extra Benefits
Participants in the Education, Training and Development Option continue to receive any secondary benefits to which they would otherwise have an entitlement. These may include:
Assessment of Rent/Mortgage Supplement
All additional income, e.g. training allowance, out of pocket expenses, maintenance grant, may affect entitlement to Rent/Mortgage Supplement.
Claims
Responsibility for securing a place on a course rests with the claimant. The Department of Social Protection does not provide assistance in this regard.
Once a person has been accepted on a course s/he must notify the Department before commencing the course by completing the application form ( BTE 1) which is available from: Back to Education Allowance Application Form (BTE1)
The completed application form should be returned to the Case Officer/Jobcoach at the Intreo Centre.
Documentation
Claimants are responsible for the production of the information required. This includes written confirmation from the relevant institute that the claimant has registered for the course as outlined in their application form. Failure to supply the relevant documentation will result in the application being disallowed.
Participants may be requested to furnish confirmation of on-going course attendance. Failure to supply this information within the period specified may result in a suspension of payment.
Participants are also required to notify the Department of cessation of participation on a course.
Decisions
On receipt of a completed application form (BTE1) the Case Officer/Jobcoach confirms that the applicant satisfies the eligibility criteria for retention of Jobseekers Allowance or Jobseekers Benefit under Article 120 of Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims, Payments and Control) Regulations, 2007 (S.I. 142 0f 2007) as amended.
If the qualifying conditions are satisfied the Case Officer/Jobcoach should inform the Intreo Office/Branch Office that the applicant has been approved for participation in the Education, Training and Development Option and the conditions under Article 120 are satisfied. The approval, together with BTE1 should be associated with JA/JB claim papers in the relevant Intreo Office/Branch Office.
The Case Officer/Jobcoach should also notify the applicant of his/her approval/refusal to participate in the Education, Training and Development Option.
Payment
The Education, Training and Development Option does not involve any special payment or allowance. The claimant approved for participation in this option retains entitlement to the appropriate rate of Jobseekers Allowance or Jobseekers Benefit. Payment will continue by the same method as prior to the award.
JA /JB Conditions
While the claimant is participating in a course of education under the ET&D option, the condition of availability is waived. Also, the normal "signing" arrangements are suspended.
Duration Of Payment
Payment under Education, Training and Development is paid on a weekly basis as long as the participant continues to satisfy the conditions for receipt of Jobseekers Allowance or Jobseekers Benefit.
Maintenance
Claims are maintained on an on-going basis in the relevant Intreo Centre.
Certificates
Applicants are required to furnish written verification from the school/college or institute to confirm that they have registered for the course as outlined and the specific duration of the approved course.
Review
Participants in the Education, Training and Development Option may be periodically reviewed to confirm that the conditions of entitlement continue to be satisfied. A review may also be initiated on receipt of notification of any change in circumstances which may affect entitlement or the appropriate rate of payment.
Credits
Where a person has established an entitlement to the award of credited contributions, these will continue to be awarded for the duration of participation in the Education, Training and development Option.