Mature ''dependent'' student with child

Hi all.

I was wondering if anyone has been in this situation.

I am a 30 year old lone parent of a 10 year old boy and due to the rental market in the last two years I have no choice but to live in my family home. I work part-time and do not receive maintenance nor will I in the future.

I made a decision to return to education full time so I can progress in a career that will hopefully provide adequately for both myself and my child.

I was informed by SUSI on numerous occasions that due to the fact I have my own child that only my income would be taken into account for the student contribution grant even though I am living with my parents. Therefore based on my income I would be eligible to receive a grant for the registration fees.

I checked this information on a few different occasions with them and was reassured this was the case.

I applied to the CAO and have been offered a place in a competitive programme to get into and will be approved for the back to education allowance in September. I will continue to work part-time and will have to pay for childcare and all other costs for myself and my child.

SUSI have now informed me that because I live in the family home my parents income will be assessed for the registration fees grant purposes combined with my income. I feel this is grossly unfair as I have my own family to provide for yet they are assessing me on income that I do not have access to.

Even if I move out this year , ''to become independent'', I will be assessed on my parents income for the four years of the programme. Ie the change of circumstances will not be applicable on only my circumstances- they will still take my parents income into account.

My parents gross income is over the threshold therefore I will be liable to pay €3000 fees yearly. They will not take into account expenses which means their disposable income is quite low- only gross income will be taken into account.

These fees will be exceedingly difficult for me today as I am providing for myself and my child on an already low wage. To add insult to injury they told me if I defer my programme for a year and claim rent allowance that I will be entitled to the fees to be paid.

I pay towards the household expenses yet I can not prove this as I don't have any ''fixed'' utility in my own name. I have childcare, life assurance, car insurance etc in my own name but none of these will be suffice to prove independent residency. I did not plan on staying here for as long as I have had to therefore I have nothing ''official'' to prove independent living.

I feel this is very unfair and was wondering if anyone can offer me advise or any way to get around this. I don't want to sit around for another year, I want to start this and progress to a better future for myself and my child...

This will not be possible with the expense of these fees that I did not account for due to being misinformed by SUSI.

Any advice would be appreciated