The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) supports people on certain social welfare payments who want to return to full-time education. Participants receive a weekly payment at the same rate as their existing social welfare payment while studying. Weekly social welfare rates are rising by €10 from January 2027 (Budget 2027), and BTEA rates follow the underlying payment.
A Cost of Education Allowance of €500 per academic year is payable to BTEA recipients who have a qualified child payment on their claim. This is not paid to all BTEA recipients — only those with dependent children.
Qualifying periods: for the second-level option you generally need to have been on a qualifying payment for at least 3 months; for the third-level option you need at least 9 months. Time on other approved schemes can count, and periods that are not broken by more than 12 months can be combined. Some exemptions apply, for example for people awarded statutory redundancy.
Important: you cannot get the SUSI maintenance grant and BTEA together, and people on BTEA are not eligible for the Working Family Payment. The course must be full-time and lead to a recognised qualification; if you already hold a degree, only certain higher diploma courses are approved.
Must be receiving a qualifying DSP payment (Jobseeker's Allowance/Benefit, One-Parent Family Payment, Disability Allowance, Carer's Allowance, etc.) for the required period (3 months second level, 9 months third level). Must attend an approved full-time course.