Maint Grant/JSA

Perhaps someone can help with the following problem:
Young person on JSA has got a place on a Post Grad course. She applied for a Grant as an Independent Mature Student as she is 24 and does not live with her parents as they are retired and her mother works parttime. She has been told that there must be a break of 3 years since she attended college (as a dependent student) before she can apply as an Indepentent Mature Student for a Grant. Unfortunately she finished college in May 2008 (so not three years). Is there any way she can either get the Grant or get the Back to Educ. Allow. ?
If she does not get the Grant she can not take up her place in College so she will have to stay on JSA....
I am trying to give her some advice but I do not know where she should go from here
Hope someone can help her, as she seems to be in a catch 22 situation.....

Mature students are no longer entitled to receive the BTEA and the maintenance grant together. It is either one or the other. How long has your friend been on the JSA? if its 9 months or longer she may be eligible to apply for the BTEA in the coming academic year, further details here

I realise that she wont get both, but at the moment I do not think she will be either! She wont get the maintenance grant because it is only 2 years since she was in college and her parents paid for that. It appears you must be left college for 3 years before you can get the Grant as an "Independent Mature Student". She can not get the Back to Education allow., as the Post grad course she is doing is not teaching related, its a law post grand she hopes to do. She will not be albe to get her JSA while she is doing the course so I dont know where she can go from here.

Note:




The postgraduate option of the BTEA scheme is only for people who wish to take:

• a postgraduate course of study that leads to any Higher Diploma (H. Dip.) qualification in any discipline. or
• a postgraduate Diploma in Education (Primary or Secondary teaching).

Other postgraduate qualifications including a Master's degree are not recognised for BTEA purposes.

I think from the above which I got from your link it is only Teaching Post grads that get the BTEA.

Thank you