Jobseekers allowance Mature student

D

dublad

Guest
Hi,

I would like to find out if I am entitled to apply for JA. I am a mature student in the 2nd year of a 3 year Degree. My course is classed as full-time and involves 9hrs of lectures per week. I enquired about receiving back to education allowance at the start of my 1st year but was told that I did not qualify as I was not in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for 9 months (234 days of unemployment*) immediately before I started the course. I have never been in receipt of any state benefit. I have read on the Dept of Social Protection website that a student is normally disqualified from applying for JA but then it states (except a mature student).

JA Disqualification - course of study



The legislation also provides that a person shall be disqualified from receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance while attending a course of study (including school/college holiday periods), except in such circumstances as may be prescribed. The exceptions to this disqualifications are :
  1. persons aged 21 years or over who have been in receipt of JA/ JB for at least 6 months and who are participating in approved courses of education, training or development (as per above), and
  2. mature students, i.e. persons over 23 years of age on or before 1st January in the year in which the course of study commences.
Deciding Officers should note that disqualification while attending a course of study is completely separate from the availability condition. As mature students are exempted from this disqualification, they may be entitled to Jobseeker's Allowance during the summer holiday periods if they satisfy the availability condition in the normal way.
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Reading the above seems like I might only be entitled to apply during the summer months only but not sure.

Any advice appreciated.
 
Yes you are only entitled to apply during the summer holidays if you were 23 years of age on the 1st of January prior to commencing the course.
 
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