Back to Education Allowance – Second Level

The Back to Education Allowance at second level gives those who left school early a chance to gain a qualification.

If you’re over 21 and either unemployed, parenting alone, or you have a disability, and you receive certain payments from the Department of Social Protection, then you could be eligible for the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA).

This could give you the opportunity to attend a second-level course at any secondary, community, comprehensive or vocational school.

What kind of course can I do on BTEA?

The course must be full-time and lead to a certificate recognised by the Department of Education and Skills or approved by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), for example:

• Junior Certificate
• Leaving Certificate
• Post Leaving Certificate
• An Access or Foundation course is considered to be a second-level course for BTEA purposes

How do I qualify for Back to Education Allowance?

In general, to qualify for the BTEA you must be over 21 and have been getting a qualifying social welfare payment. You must have been accepted onto a qualifying course.

However, if you are aged between 18 and 20, are getting Jobseeker’s Allowance, Jobseeker’s Benefit, Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment, or One-Parent Family Payment for the required period (3 months, 9 months or 12 months), and have been out of the formal education system for at least 2 years, you may qualify.

If you are aged 18 or over and getting Blind Pension, Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension or Incapacity Supplement for the required period (3 months or 9 months), you may also qualify.

Qualifying social welfare payments

• Jobseeker’s Allowance or Jobseeker’s Benefit
• Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment
• Farm Assist
• One-Parent Family Payment
• Carer’s Allowance
• Blind Pension
• Disability Allowance
• Invalidity Pension
• Incapacity Supplement (based on a life Disablement Pension)
• Illness Benefit for 2 years or more. (However periods spent on Illness Benefit can count towards the qualifying period if you qualify from another payment. Half of the qualifying period must relate to the qualifying payment.)
• Deserted Wife’s Benefit or Allowance
• View the complete list here

How long do I have to be receiving payments before I qualify?

For second level courses, you must have been getting a qualifying social welfare payment for at least 3 months. You must be getting the qualifying payment immediately before you start the course.

You do not have to have been getting your qualifying payment continuously. If you’ve been on other qualifying social welfare payments or getting credits over a period of time that was not broken up by up to 12 months, this can be used towards determining if you qualify for BTEA.

Other payments that can count towards you qualifying for the BTEA include time spent on:

• Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS)
• Full-time FET (formerly FÁS) training courses
• Community Employment schemes
• Part-time Job Incentive scheme
• Gateway
• Community Services Programme
• Rural Social Scheme
• TÚS
• Workplace Placement Scheme
• Back to Work Enterprise Allowance
• Short Term Enterprise Allowance
• Job Initiative, Job Assist and JobBridge may count towards the qualifying period for BTEA purposes
• If you spend time on Youthreach, this can count towards the qualifying period provided you establish an entitlement to a qualifying social welfare payment before or after completing the Youthreach programme
• Time spent in prison in the Irish State can count towards the qualifying period provided you establish an entitlement to a qualifying social welfare payment
• Time spent on Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA), the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment or in Daily Expenses Allowance/Direct Provision can count towards the qualifying period for BTEA
• If you have been awarded statutory redundancy and are entitled to a qualifying social welfare payment immediately before you start the course you can get immediate access to the BTEA without any waiting period. You must take part in the BTEA scheme within one year of getting statutory redundancy and satisfy all the other conditions

This provision only applies where you have established an entitlement to a qualifying social welfare payment immediately before you start your course of study.

How do I apply for Back to Education Allowance?

It will be up to you to make arrangements when it comes to getting accepted to a course. Here are some steps to start:

Contact a school or college

First off, contact your local school or college and ask for details of the courses available.

Apply for the course of your choice

It’s your responsibility to get a place on the course of your choice. Try to get your application in early. You must apply for BTEA before your course starts (or within 30 days of the course starting).

Complete the Back to Education Allowance Application

When you have been accepted on a course, you will be required to fill out a BTE 1 form. To access the form, visit your local Intreo or Social Welfare Office or find it online here. You must be recommended for the BTEA by a DSP Employment Personal Advisor, or if you’re a jobseeker making a new BTEA claim, a job coach. 

You must get written confirmation that you are registered as a full-time day student from the college registrar or admission officer. You will not get payment from BTEA until you give this confirmation letter to the Department of Social Protection. Send your application to the section of the DSP that deals with your primary payment.

For more information, check out the welfare website.

Need more information, advice or guidance?

We offer information, advice and guidance about the issues that matter to you. Our online Youth Information Chat service is for 16 to 25 year olds and is available Monday to Friday, 4pm to 8pm (excluding Bank Holidays).

• Chat now to a trained Youth Information Officer
• Or leave us a message and we will email you back