Operational Guidelines: Education, Training and Development

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, one parent 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:

• Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) Scheme: Payment of weekly allowance while pursuing a second or third level course of study (See separate Guideline Back to Education - Back to Education Allowance Scheme)
• Education, Training and Development Option (E,T&D) (This Guideline)
• Part-Time Education Option (PTEO) Retention of Jobseekers Allowance/Jobseekers Benefit/Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit (See separate Guideline BACK TO EDUCATION - Part-Time Education Option)

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/JPRB Schemes

Administration

The Education, Training and Development (E,T&D) is administered by:

Description Of Option

The qualifying conditions for receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance, Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit require a customer to be available for and genuinely seeking full-time employment. A customer pursuing a full-time course of study would not satisfy this condition and, therefore, would not qualify for Jobseeker's Allowance, Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit.

However, under the Education, Training and Development (ET&D) customers may continue to receive, subject to satisfying certain conditions, his/her Jobseekers Allowance, Jobseekers Benefit or Jobseeker’s Pay-Related 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 Jobseeker's Allowance, Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit as appropriate, and are deemed to be available for employment for the duration of the course.

Approved Courses

Courses which are not recognised for BTEA Further or Higher Level education courses, 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 customer who does not qualify for BTEA due to failing one or more of the qualifying conditions. For example, a customer 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:

• Personal development courses
• Basic education e.g. literacy classes
• General training courses
• Acquisition of specific job skills

Qualifying Conditions

In order to qualify for retention of Jobseeker's Allowance, Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit under the Education, Training and Development Option a person must, immediately prior to commencing an approved course be:

• at least 21 years of age, or
• aged between 18 and 20 and out of the formal education system for at least 2 years, and
• in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance, Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit at least 6 months during his/her current period of unemployment

NOTE: A person in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance, Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit wishing to avail of the ET&D option as an early school leaver must supply, to the Employment Personal Advisor written evidence from their former school/college of their previous educational qualifications and date of leaving formal education.

Jobseekers Allowance/Jobseekers Benefit/Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit

Customers 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 Jobseeker's Allowance, Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit.

Note: All other conditions for receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance, Jobseeker's Benefit, or Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit must continue to be satisfied.

Special Provisions

• Under Article 73 of Social Welfare (Consolidated Payments Provision) Regulations, 1994 (SI 417/94 as amended by SI 54/98) persons in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance, Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit attending an approved course under the ET&D option are deemed to be available for work
• Persons who qualify under the Education, Training and Development Option are not required to "sign-on" for the duration of an approved course
• Persons who qualify under the ET&D Option to pursue an approved course of education, training or development are not entitled to receive a "Training Allowance".
• a course of education, training or development in private organisations or institutions may not be approved for the purposes of the ET&D Option, (except as outlined below)
• if the customer resides in a "Partnership Area" and wishes to avail of the ET&D option in respect of a private course, his/her chosen course may be approved provided it is approved or recommended by the Partnership.

Rates of payment

The Education, Training and Development Option does not involve any special payment or allowance. Customers continue to be eligible for their Jobseeker's Allowance, Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker’s Pay-Related 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 e.g. cheque, post office or electronic fund transfer (EFT).

Extra Benefits

Customers in the Education, Training and Development Option continue to receive any secondary benefits to which they would otherwise have an entitlement.

Claims

Responsibility for securing a place on a course rests with the customer. The Department of Social Protection does not provide assistance in this regard.

Once a customer 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 their local Intreo Centre.

Documentation

Customers are responsible for the production of the information required. This includes written confirmation from the relevant institute that the customer has registered for the course as outlined in their application form. Failure to supply the relevant documentation will result in the application being disallowed.

Customers 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.

Customers are also required to notify the Department of cessation of participation on a course.

Decisions

On receipt of a completed application form (BTE1) the Employment Personal Advisor confirms that the customer satisfies the eligibility criteria for retention of Jobseeker's Allowance, Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker’s Pay-Related 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 Employment Personal Advisor should inform their local Intreo Centre that the customer 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/JPRB claim papers.

The Employment Personal Advisor should also notify the customer of the 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 customers approved for participation in this option retains entitlement to the appropriate rate of Jobseeker's Allowance, Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit. Payment will continue by the same method as prior to the award e.g. cheque, Post Office or electronic fund transfer.

JA /JB/JPRB Conditions

While the customer 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 customer continues to satisfy the conditions for receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance, Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit.

Maintenance

Claims are maintained on an on-going basis in the relevant Local Intreo Centre.

Certificates

Customers 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

Customers 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 customer 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.