Mature Student Grant 2011/12

B1977 · 18-05-2011 11:35am #1

Has it being confirmed that mature student are now automatically NOT
entitle to the non-adjacent rate for the grant.
Is this for new entry students or all current students ?

bnt · 18-05-2011 11:57am

Yep, it's confirmed. Applies to all students, new or existing.

Budget 2011 introduced several changes to student support schemes:
Student grants were reduced by 4%. This reduction applies to all existing and new grant-holders from January 2011.

A new eligibility category was added to the family income limits for exemption from 50% of the new Student Contribution

The qualifying distance between home and college for the non-adjacent rate of grant was increased from 24km to 45km

Mature students will no longer be automatically eligible for the non-adjacent rate of grant.

The grant amounts involved are so small that it hardly seems worth the bother, but if you qualify you are also exempt from a student service charges which is more than the grant amount.

B1977 · 18-05-2011 12:27pm

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/education/third_level_education/fees_and_supports_for_third_level_education/maintenance_grant_schemes_for_students_on_third_level_courses.html

Rates
Budget 2011 reduced the rates of all student grants by 4%. This reduction applies to all existing and new grant-holders from January 2011.

Changes in grant rates are considered during the annual Budget process and become effective in January at the beginning of the financial year rather than at the start of the academic year in September.

Ordinary maintenance grant rates for 2011

Rates Non-adjacent rate Adjacent rate
Full Maintenance €3,120 €1,250
Part maintenance (75%) €2,340 €940
Part maintenance (50%) €1,560 €625
Part maintenance (25%) €780 €315

some students could be down by 3120EURO

Adjacent and non-adjacent rates
For the academic year 2010/2011, the adjacent rate of maintenance grant was payable in respect of students living 24 kilometres or less from the college being attended. The non-adjacent rate applied to everyone else, including all mature students both dependent and independent.

Budget 2011
The qualifying distance between the student’s home and college for the non-adjacent rate increased from 24km to 45km
Mature students will no longer be automatically eligible for the non-adjacent rate

Omega28 · 18-05-2011 2:51pm

so what does all this mean to someone applying this yr as a mature student?! in simple english please folks!!!

stripey sox · 18-05-2011 6:17pm

The changes to grants this year basically mean that if you are a mature student living less than 45km from chosen college you will be entitled to the grand sum of 1200 for the academic year. Mature students were previously entitled to the non-adjacent rate of payment regardless of distance from college, this was abolished in the budget:mad:

I feel very strongly that we should not be railroaded into accepting these cuts. Politicians who earn 100k are only taking a cut of 5k, students are expected to now live on fresh air and leave their children home alone because they cant pay for childcare :mad:

Anyone else with strong feelings on this matter ?

Omega28 · 18-05-2011 6:30pm

stripey sox wrote: »

The changes to grants this year basically mean that if you are a mature student living less than 45km from chosen college you will be entitled to the grand sum of 1200 for the academic year. Mature students were previously entitled to the non-adjacent rate of payment regardless of distance from college, this was abolished in the budget:mad:

I feel very strongly that we should not be railroaded into accepting these cuts. Politicians who earn 100k are only taking a cut of 5k, students are expected to now live on fresh air and leave their children home alone because they cant pay for childcare :mad:

Anyone else with strong feelings on this matter ?

Hold on a sec, does that 1200 include registration costs for the course?! cause they stand at like 1500euro!!!

tina turner · 18-05-2011 6:38pm

Dylanmc111 wrote: »

Hold on a sec, does that 1200 include registration costs for the course?! cause they stand at like 1500euro!!!

I believe it's on top of the fees.

[Jackass] · 18-05-2011 8:16pm

What do you mean "on top"?

As in the Registration fee is covered by the free fees inititave and your grant is seperate, or do you need to use your grant to pay the registration fee?

Sorry, this is all very confusing. Typically missed the boat on any sort of decent grant AND back to education allowance. Oh well.

ben.schlomo · 18-05-2011 10:46pm

New to the whole mature student thing, so in terms of money, what am i actually entitled to if anything? Are my registration fees covered etc etc. Thanks

B1977 · 18-05-2011 10:53pm

ben.schlomo wrote: »

New to the whole mature student thing, so in terms of money, what am i actually entitled to if anything? Are my registration fees covered etc etc. Thanks

You might be entitled to "The Back TO Education Allowance" or "The Grant".
to receive BTEA you must be in recepit of some form of social welfare for over 12 months,you need to check with the social welfare office.For the grant,you need to contact your local VEC office and they ll decide if you are entitiled to anything.Everyones circumstances are different so you need to contact those 2 bodies to find out

schween · 18-05-2011 10:54pm

[Jackass] wrote: »

What do you mean "on top"?

As in the Registration fee is covered by the free fees inititave and your grant is seperate, or do you need to use your grant to pay the registration fee?

Sorry, this is all very confusing. Typically missed the boat on any sort of decent grant AND back to education allowance. Oh well.

Your fees are paid as normal and your grant money is separate.

I had the disturbing realisation today that although I never got the grant as an undergraduate and am now 25 I will still be classed as dependant on my parents as a postgraduate. So I've a €5,000 bill in September. Or I can wait three years to be classed as a mature independent candidate. Every year there's some rule that they refused me on.

eternal · 18-05-2011 11:22pm

This is all very distressing.
I was reading last years grant stuff and got confused.Are you saying that if I dont move near the college and drive every day ,Id be entitled to more money ? But theres no parking in UCC hardly.I did relief work there before and I couldnt get a spot no matter how early I went in.I ended up paying for it in the end .
No way am I paying 20 euro a day for parking .Is it possible to work part time and get a grant ? And my newphew is in first year in college ,hes actually finished first year now since last week and his 2010 grant still hasnt come through.If thats the case we will have to pay for everything for the year until they sort out their backlog.

Moon Indigo · 19-05-2011 10:42am

This is really disturbing. I was delighted getting my place in NUIM and have applied for BTEA. I am not not only confused but really worried. The BTEA is all I will have to live on like so many who try to get an education. I will apply for the fees/student services charge to be paid. The problem is now I don't know if I am entitled to that or if these changes affect it. I simply can't afford to go otherwise.

Its so hard to just get into college as a mature. You have to prove how much you want it. how its going to change your life etc etc then this rubbish. It seems its constant that students are taking the fall. Only a few short years ago you at least had the grant and BTEA. Everytime I go to move forward someone else shifts the goalposts!

I dread to think whats in the next budget. I'm not one for protests but I think it's high time for students/matures to stand up and be counted.Something really needs to be done and fast as this area is leaking money. I will get 188 euro like so many to live on a week. I pay 100 out of that for bills etc. Thats 88 euro for transport etc. At least I will lose weight as I won't be able to afford to eat!. Thanks for letting me vent. :mad:

Omega28 · 19-05-2011 11:37am

This is getting head wrecking folks!!!

I need to contact someone official and see what the situation is on this.

paperclip2 · 19-05-2011 2:59pm

The Grant is made up of two parts.

1. Maintenance component: This is the funding the student receives directly and since 2010 it is not awarded to students who are in receipt of the Back to Education allowance (BTEA) with two exceptions i.e. Students on a Disability or One Parent Family Payment, who can retain these payments while studying and receive the maintenance grant subject to satisfying the means test.

2. Registration fee component. For colleges and unis this is about €1500, for PLC courses its a minimum of €200. For people whose income is within the reckonable income guidelines this statutory component is covered irregardless of whether or not they will be on the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA).

Free fees have nothing to do with the grant. Under current legislation free fees exist for a students first shot at progressing through further and higher education. Certain conditions however do apply e.g. the residency requirement.

Adjacent & Non-Adjacent rates of the grant.
The last budget introduced a change in respect of the application of these rates as well as increasing the qualifying distance for non-adjacent rates to 45km.
Non-mature students, i.e those under 23, it means that from this year in order to qualify for the Non-Adjacent rate of grant your course must be located at least 45km from where you live. If its under this distance then the lower Adjacent rate will apply.

Mature Students. Up until this year, irregardless of how far you lived from your course location you automatically received the higher, non-adjacent rate of grant. From this coming September however mature students will be subject to the same rule as non-matures. In order to qualify for the Non-Adjacent rate you need to live more than 45 km from your course. For someone who was in receipt of the maximum Non-Adjacent rate of the grant, €3,120, they could now see this drop to €1,250 if they live less than 45km from their course.

This change also applies to the top up rates of the grant for people on low income which again could see some peoples grant rate drop from €6,100 to €2,445.

ben.schlomo · 19-05-2011 3:30pm

paperclip2 wrote: »

The Grant is made up of two parts.

1. Maintenance component: This is the funding the student receives directly and since 2010 it is not awarded to students who are in receipt of the Back to Education allowance (BTEA) with two exceptions i.e. Students on a Disability or One Parent Family Payment, who can retain these payments while studying and receive the maintenance grant subject to satisfying the means test.

2. Registration fee component. For colleges and unis this is about €1500, for PLC courses its a minimum of €200. For people whose income is within the reckonable income guidelines this statutory component is covered irregardless of whether or not they will be on the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA).

Free fees have nothing to do with the grant. Under current legislation free fees exist for a students first shot at progressing through further and higher education. Certain conditions however do apply e.g. the residency requirement.

Adjacent & Non-Adjacent rates of the grant.
The last budget introduced a change in respect of the application of these rates as well as increasing the qualifying distance for non-adjacent rates to 45km.
Non-mature students, i.e those under 23, it means that from this year in order to qualify for the Non-Adjacent rate of grant your course must be located at least 45km from where you live. If its under this distance then the lower Adjacent rate will apply.

Mature Students. Up until this year, irregardless of how far you lived from your course location you automatically received the higher, non-adjacent rate of grant. From this coming September however mature students will be subject to the same rule as non-matures. In order to qualify for the Non-Adjacent rate you need to live more than 45 km from your course. For someone who was in receipt of the maximum Non-Adjacent rate of the grant, €3,120, they could now see this drop to €1,250 if they live less than 45km from their course.

This change also applies to the top up rates of the grant for people on low income which again could see some peoples grant rate drop from €6,100 to €2,445.

so as this is my first attempt at third level i am entitled to have my fees paid?

paperclip2 · 19-05-2011 3:47pm

ben.schlomo wrote: »

so as this is my first attempt at third level i am entitled to have my fees paid?

As long as you are an EU citizen, have been resident in Ireland for three out of the last five years, don't hold a qualification at the same level that you are now applying for and that the course itself is recognised by the DES under the free fees scheme, then I would say that its likely you would qualify.

ben.schlomo · 19-05-2011 3:54pm

paperclip2 wrote: »

As long as you are an EU citizen, have been resident in Ireland for three out of the last five years, don't hold a qualification at the same level that you are now applying for and that the course itself is recognised by the DES under the free fees scheme, then I would say that its likely you would qualify.

cool, thanks for that ,takes some of the confusion out of it for me. Still need to go VEC and see what i can get.

Omega28 · 19-05-2011 5:10pm

what about people like me who are a mature student and also claiming disability allowance? I'm not working, and I live at home

paperclip2 · 20-05-2011 10:31am

Dylanmc111 wrote: »

what about people like me who are a mature student and also claiming disability allowance? I'm not working, and I live at home

Theres a few aspects here:

Free fees: The criteria outlined above would apply, i.e that the course is recognised by the DES, that you don't hold a qualification at the same level already, etc.

Social welfare payment: As far as I know It is possible to keep a disability payment and study full-time but you do need to get 'permission' from the DSP to do so.

Grant: If you are given the green light to keep your disability payment for full-time study you can also apply for the grant to either the Co. Council or VEC depending on your course. This is a means tested payment and in your case as you are living at home, I assume with your parents, then their income and your own would be included in the means test. As a mature student living at home you are classified as a 'dependent mature candidate' which is why your parents income is also included.

Hope this helps.

Andre80Johnson · 31-05-2011 11:00pm

Hi Guys, please excuse my ignorance, but what is a maintenance grant? The reason I ask is that I'm on the Disability Allowance and I get the rent supplement, and I'm now heading into second year in September. Last year I applied for BTEA so I could get the book allowance. A few days ago I got a letter stating: If you are recieving disability allowance, you will need to asses whether it would be more benficial for you to transfer to the BTEA when you go back to education or remain on your curent payment and apply for maintenece grant.

If you get the BTEA, you can still apply for your student services charge and college fees to be paid by your local authority or Vocational Education Committee (VEC) using the form for the student maintence grant. Please note however that BTEA holders are not guaranteed to qualify for payment of the student services charges, only those meeting terms and conditions of the grant scheme. BTEA-holders applying for student service charges and for fees shold complete a grant application form as early as possible and submit it to their local authority or VEC.

OPTION 1
If you transfer to BTEA, you should:

receive a payment equivalent to the maximum standard rate of your current payment
receive a cost of education allowance, currently at 500euro for each academic year of the approved course
not eligible for maintenance under the student grant scheme
apply to the student grant scheme for the student service charge and course fee
Be able to work part time without affecting your BTEA payment
In general, retain secondary benefits like rent supplement. Note, if you are in receipt of rent supplement or mortgage interest supplement and your income increases, you will be re-assessed for these benefits.

Option 2
If you continue to get your disability allowance you should:

keep your existing payment
be entitled to for both maintenance and the student service charge under the student grant scheme (Note: Applicants on social welfare payments do not automatically qualify for a maintenance grant)
Not eligible for a cost of education allowance
In general lose your rent supplement or mortgage supplement by reason of in full time education.

Now sorry about that, but I'm kinda confused by the whole thing, it seems to me that I'm being forced to pick option One, or am I wrong? Could someone explain it better, because I tried talking over the phone but I'm partially deaf so thanks in advance if you can help.

Omega28 · 31-05-2011 11:12pm

Andre80Johnson wrote: »

Hi Guys, please excuse my ignorance, but what is a maintenance grant? The reason I ask is that I'm on the Disability Allowance and I get the rent supplement, and I'm now heading into second year in September. Last year I applied for BTEA so I could get the book allowance. A few days ago I got a letter stating: If you are recieving disability allowance, you will need to asses whether it would be more benficial for you to transfer to the BTEA when you go back to education or remain on your curent payment and apply for maintenece grant.

If you get the BTEA, you can still apply for your student services charge and college fees to be paid by your local authority or Vocational Education Committee (VEC) using the form for the student maintence grant. Please note however that BTEA holders are not guaranteed to qualify for payment of the student services charges, only those meeting terms and conditions of the grant scheme. BTEA-holders applying for student service charges and for fees shold complete a grant application form as early as possible and submit it to their local authority or VEC.

OPTION 1
If you transfer to BTEA, you should:

receive a payment equivalent to the maximum standard rate of your current payment

receive a cost of education allowance, currently at 500euro for each academic year of the approved course

not eligible for maintenance under the student grant scheme

apply to the student grant scheme for the student service charge and course fee

Be able to work part time without affecting your BTEA payment

In general, retain secondary benefits like rent supplement. Note, if you are in receipt of rent supplement or mortgage interest supplement and your income increases, you will be re-assessed for these benefits.

Option 2
If you continue to get your disability allowance you should:

keep your existing payment

be entitled to for both maintenance and the student service charge under the student grant scheme (Note: Applicants on social welfare payments do not automatically qualify for a maintenance grant)

Not eligible for a cost of education allowance

In general lose your rent supplement or mortgage supplement by reason of in full time education.

Now sorry about that, but I'm kinda confused by the whole thing, it seems to me that I'm being forced to pick option One, or am I wrong? Could someone explain it better, because I tried talking over the phone but I'm partially deaf so thanks in advance if you can help.

Hi

I'm also on Disability Allowance and Rent Supplement. I got this letter last week, I really don't understand it either, it is like their basically telling you to pick option 1, if you don't, you will lose your benefits, so it seems.

I would like to find more info if someone has any?!

I believe I have 21 days to return the form, correct?

thanks

paperclip2 · 02-06-2011 10:28am

Hi,

I've done some checking on this this morning. What I've been told today is that this is a rule that in many parts of the country has been applied sporadically by CWO's up until now. In one county I was told by a CWO that as the client data of DSP, the VEC and HSE are held seperately that in several cases people have progressed through education, retaining both their rent allowance, disability/ OPFP and also the grant i.e they fell though the cracks.

This letter looks like some joined up thinking on the part o DSP and the HSE. The CWO I spoke to recommended speaking to the CIC in your area to look at the best option for you.

A different service I spoke to said that there seems to be a national drive to get young people into education at the expense, literally, of mature students.

I will be following up on this and if I find out more I will post it.

smokedeels · 02-06-2011 12:28pm

https://www.grantsonline.ie/index_alt.html

"Facility to apply online for 2011/12 student grants will be available in May 2011"

However, I can't find a link to the online forms.

Am I looking in the wrong place.

pj19 · 02-06-2011 1:55pm

hey guys, say i have a masters from Europe and I want to get the BTEA, How will social welfare know I have a masters if I dont tell them, dont see why my masters should stop me getting BTEA to do my Dip in UCC when i paid for the Masters myself and I am having a complete change of career from engineering to teaching, any ideas?

i have read that it says you cannot go from a masters to hdip as there is no progression except under certain circumstances, anyone know what these circumstances are?

unpeumad · 02-06-2011 8:35pm

hi !
Just wondering does anyone know how much fees are if a student is repeating a year ?

Merci d'avance

Cravez · 02-06-2011 8:38pm

unpeumad wrote: »

hi !
Just wondering does anyone know how much fees are if a student is repeating a year ?

Merci d'avance

Fee's are different per University/College. Best getting in touch with the Uni/College you are currently studying (or plan on studying) to find out.

unpeumad · 02-06-2011 8:49pm

Michael Cravez wrote: »

Fee's are different per University/College. Best getting in touch with the Uni/College you are currently studying (or plan on studying) to find out.

Oh ok !
I'll do that so .
Thank you

Babyblessed · 04-06-2011 4:37pm

pj19 wrote: »

hey guys, say i have a masters from Europe and I want to get the BTEA, How will social welfare know I have a masters if I dont tell them, dont see why my masters should stop me getting BTEA to do my Dip in UCC when i paid for the Masters myself and I am having a complete change of career from engineering to teaching, any ideas?

i have read that it says you cannot go from a masters to hdip as there is no progression except under certain circumstances, anyone know what these circumstances are?

You wouldnt qualify for the grant not sure about BTEA. Not sure about free fees etc, Id suggest contacting your local Grants office.... if its county hall I'd suggest going in to them, they tend not to answer the phone this time of year! (2nd floor glass corridor!)

Spud5467 · 05-06-2011 11:48am

Mature Students. Up until this year, irregardless of how far you lived from your course location you automatically received the higher, non-adjacent rate of grant. From this coming September however mature students will be subject to the same rule as non-matures. In order to qualify for the Non-Adjacent rate you need to live more than 45 km from your course. For someone who was in receipt of the maximum Non-Adjacent rate of the grant, €3,120, they could now see this drop to €1,250 if they live less than 45km from their course.

This change also applies to the top up rates of the grant for people on low income which again could see some peoples grant rate drop from €6,100 to €2,445.

So I'm confused. Living in Cavan at the minute and hopefully get offered a place in Dublin. Are you assessed where you were living or where you will be living?

Babyblessed · 05-06-2011 4:44pm

Spud5467 wrote: »

So I'm confused. Living in Cavan at the minute and hopefully get offered a place in Dublin. Are you assessed where you were living or where you will be living?

Its based on your home address. You apply for the grant to Cavan Council as Cavan is your home address, I take it you wont be permanently moving to Dublin?

Spud5467 · 09-06-2011 2:38pm

Babyblessed wrote: »

Its based on your home address. You apply for the grant to Cavan Council as Cavan is your home address, I take it you wont be permanently moving to Dublin?

I'll go and see guidance and hopefully things will become clearer.

On social welfare so be getting BTEA and I need to apply for the grant to cover my student fees right?

I'll be living in dublin when I'm studying but it would hardly make sense to keep two houses. That would hardly be an option as im on rent allowance right?

sharkbite1983 · 12-06-2011 8:39pm

does anyone know if if I'd be entitled to a mortgage relief grant as a mature student? Im an owner occupier living in blessington, & thinking about a change in careers. (electricians arent in quite the same demand anymore) thanks.

RebelJukebox · 04-07-2011 11:23am

It is absolutely criminal to do this to people particularly half way through a course. Why are the poorer students being penalised? If your parents can afford to put you through college they have had no increase in what they have to pay. However the poorer students relying on grants and social welfare are having nearly 80% of their money taken away. All I heard from policitians is that they wouldn't put up fees. I'd rather they did a small percentage overall than take so much off the vunerable. It makes me really furious

loca1 · 05-07-2011 12:19am

I have no choice but to drop out of my course in lyit. As a single parent of 2 there is no way i can afford childcare even last year the grant was only a help didnt cover it. im sickened 2years of my life wasted back on the dole que with no qualification. One more year and i would have had the degree i worked so hard for but i cannot have my kids starved to struggle through the year. Disgrace this country if childcare was paid id struggle on but no lyit didnt even help with that last year. So annoyed

B1977 · 05-07-2011 12:28pm

This decision needs to be reversed.People need to contact their local politican.It needs to be made known that students will end up having to drop out of college.This could actually cost the government more in the long term as someone who was just getting the grant which amounted to Euro 6000 will now drop down to Euro 2500.They will go back on the dole at a cost of EURO 10000.
instead of the government trying to save EURO 4000,they will be paying out 7000 more

Annasopra · 06-07-2011 4:53pm

sharkbite1983 wrote: »

does anyone know if if I'd be entitled to a mortgage relief grant as a mature student? Im an owner occupier living in blessington, & thinking about a change in careers. (electricians arent in quite the same demand anymore) thanks.

If you are a full time student you don't get it.

Annasopra · 06-07-2011 4:55pm

loca1 wrote: »

I have no choice but to drop out of my course in lyit. As a single parent of 2 there is no way i can afford childcare even last year the grant was only a help didnt cover it. im sickened 2years of my life wasted back on the dole que with no qualification. One more year and i would have had the degree i worked so hard for but i cannot have my kids starved to struggle through the year. Disgrace this country if childcare was paid id struggle on but no lyit didnt even help with that last year. So annoyed

Have you tried the SVP? or asked LYIT for funding through the student assistance fund?

stripey sox · 06-07-2011 5:08pm

A loss of almost 4000 will mean that many mature students will not be able to pay for vital childcare and therefore will have to leave their courses. It must also be remembered that those travelling 43 km to college will have almost the same expenses as those travellling the obligatory 45 km and yet will lose most of their grant. The harsh budgetary measures seem to forget those who are not entitled to BTEA and therefore had to depend on the grant. Its ridiculous that our government continue to make drastic changes without proper research and consideration. I dont expect to be unaffected by the recession but when I started my degree 2 yrs ago did I presumed that my grants would continue until I had finished. It does not even seem that they will save much from these cuts. Perhaps the savings will pay for the cost of storing our e-voting machines for another few yrs ??. Also I would like to add that apparently the USI had a protest last week, why was this not properly advertised. MOBILISE THE TROOPS!!

ben.schlomo · 07-07-2011 12:26pm

I've just gotten my offer for GMIT and im entitled to the free fees, just wondering how does it work? i will apply for the grant but doubt il get anything but do i apply for free fees or is it automatic? Thanks im sure its been answered before.

LaLucy · 07-07-2011 12:40pm

Hi my fella is getting btea when he starts so Will all his fees be paid for? he is applying for the grant to get some fees paid. We're just wondering Will he need to save before he starts.
Also we're living more than 45kms from the college so are going to move nearer to it with our baby, Will this affect anything?

Annasopra · 07-07-2011 1:31pm

ben.schlomo wrote: »

I've just gotten my offer for GMIT and im entitled to the free fees, just wondering how does it work? i will apply for the grant but doubt il get anything but do i apply for free fees or is it automatic? Thanks im sure its been answered before.

"Free fees" are automatically set by the college - The college charges you a 2000 Euro "student contribution" which the grant can pay if you are eligible

rocco. · 07-07-2011 1:43pm

hi

I left my cao number out when submitting my grant form online.
:rolleyes: i know!!
I emailed them there with all relevant details and cao number.
Would that be ok ??

Annasopra · 07-07-2011 2:01pm

LaLucy wrote: »

Hi my fella is getting btea when he starts so Will all his fees be paid for? he is applying for the grant to get some fees paid. We're just wondering Will he need to save before he starts.
Also we're living more than 45kms from the college so are going to move nearer to it with our baby, Will this affect anything?

It depends - The BTEA should cover all the tuition fees (once he is eligible for free fees, which presumably he is). He can apply for the grant to cover the student contribution of €2000. Some colleges have an additional student levy -e.g. UCD about 190 - This has to be paid by him and noone else.

In terms of moving it doesn't make any difference whatsoever because the distance is only an issue for the maintenance grant (people on BTEA are ineligible for the maintenance grant but not the fee grant)

Annasopra · 07-07-2011 2:02pm

rocco. wrote: »

hi

I left my cao number out when submitting my grant form online.
:rolleyes: i know!!
I emailed them there with all relevant details and cao number.
Would that be ok ??

Give them a ring just in case

LaLucy · 07-07-2011 2:39pm

When applying for the grant do you need to submit original documents e.g to prove you have dependents you must send your child's birth cert? How can you prove your p.p.s number without sending the social welfare card?
I scanned and copied all the documents so hopefully that Will do because if we move in the meantime they could send back the documents to old address into the wrong hands, o kafuffle!

ben.schlomo · 07-07-2011 3:37pm

mango salsa wrote: »

"Free fees" are automatically set by the college - The college charges you a 2000 Euro "student contribution" which the grant can pay if you are eligible

Not sure i phrased it right, the registration fees are €2000 yes? As its my first tie at this level i do not have to pay yes?

Larianne · 07-07-2011 3:40pm

ben.schlomo wrote: »

Not sure i phrased it right, the registration fees are €2000 yes? As its my first tie at this level i do not have to pay yes?

You don't have to pay the course fees which can be anything up to €8,000+.

The registration fee of €2,000 you pay if you are entitled to free fees. If you qualify for a grant, this registration fee will be paid for you.

Annasopra · 07-07-2011 3:40pm

ben.schlomo wrote: »

Not sure i phrased it right, the registration fees are €2000 yes? As its my first tie at this level i do not have to pay yes?

The "registration fee" is now called the "student contribution". If you are succesful in getting a grant - it is called a "fee grant" and it will be paid. If you do not get the grant then you have to pay it.

Confused2011 · 07-07-2011 4:19pm

LaLucy wrote: »

When applying for the grant do you need to submit original documents e.g to prove you have dependents you must send your child's birth cert? How can you prove your p.p.s number without sending the social welfare card?
I scanned and copied all the documents so hopefully that Will do because if we move in the meantime they could send back the documents to old address into the wrong hands, o kafuffle!

I just rang asking about sending in my sons birth cert and she asked what age he is (4) so she said that wont apply hope thats some help to you. Your pps number might be on any correspondence you might have had with the social welfare or maybe a revenue letter.

Babyblessed · 07-07-2011 8:27pm

mango salsa wrote: »

Have you tried the SVP? or asked LYIT for funding through the student assistance fund?

Might be looking at SVP myself later this year.... Im going into my 4th and final year in Uni and during the last 3 years 3 of my kids turned 18 (and they removed the Child Allowance for kids aged 18 and still in education....damned transition year!).
Also the same 3 have left or will leave education by September and our Family Income Supplement is due then so we will lose that too.
At the same time my grant is going to be a third of what it was..........

In total our income will be about €1500 per month less than it was when I started my course. Screwed...

I suppose I am a little lucky; I will enter internship in January and will see a wage from late Jan until September; albeit a substantially reduced payment due to further government cuts........ 4th year will be stressful enough without money worries. Interest rate rises too, we will be living week to week come September and praying the Student Assistance Fund will help but the forms arent around til November and it doesnt pay out til Feb/March.

Wish I could do some kind of work but 2 kids still at home and uni is usually 9-5 mon-fri............

Mature Student Grant 2011/12

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