Post here if you need assistance filling out the grant form!

Annasopra · 10-08-2011 2:14pm

p_larkin99 wrote: »

yeah i just saw that. i dont know how they can though as im on JSA so its not like ive any income or anything to disqualify me

Not sure - Ring them and ask why - maybe they think for some reason that you applied for BTEA

Rikand · 10-08-2011 2:25pm

Quick Question :;

I'm applying as an Independant Mature Student. Do I still need to fill in my parents incomes on the form even though I receive no financial support from them ?

Annasopra · 10-08-2011 2:32pm

Rickylovesuall wrote: »

Quick Question :;

I'm applying as an Independant Mature Student. Do I still need to fill in my parents incomes on the form even though I receive no financial support from them ?

No - if you are an independent mature student your parents income is irrelevant.

(3) In this scheme an “independent student” means a mature student who did not ordinarily reside with his or her parents, or either of them, from 1 October of the year before the first point of entry to an approved post leaving certificate course or an approved higher education course or re-entry to an approved course.
(4) “Mature student” means a student who on 1 January—
(a) in the year of entry for the first time to an approved post leaving certificate course;
(b) in the year of entry for the first time to an approved higher education course (other than a course known for the time being as a post leaving certificate course); or
(c) in the year of re-entry to an approved course, is at least 23 years old.

Rikand · 10-08-2011 2:36pm

Nice one, thank you very much

Paul Tergat · 10-08-2011 2:48pm

mango salsa wrote: »

Not sure - Ring them and ask why - maybe they think for some reason that you applied for BTEA

yeah its a weird one as i didnt ticked no for applying for BTEA on their form...

they told me that even if you are not eligible for BTEA you must get a letter from social welfare saying that you arent applying for BTEA. slightly annoying, hope it doesnt put me back down the line in the queue

bradyc6 · 10-08-2011 4:35pm

RoyalMarine wrote: »

i doubt it as they require you to have bills in your name. if you had post going to the house in yourname it might have helped, and if the landlord had you registered with PRTB that might have helped too, but since you just paid a girl the rent, it sounds like there is no proof you were there apart from the landlord's word.
which for the grant office, wont suffice.

Think I'll sent in the application anyway with a cover letter explaining and the landlords letter and copy bills which are in my housemates name. I might as well try, nothing to lose really. Thanks for your prompt response by the way.

isabell · 10-08-2011 4:50pm

Hi all
My grant application is done (I applied online) and almost all my documents are ready to sent to VEC. However what I am waiting for is the social welfare letter with all the detalis about my income from the JB from 2010 and acceptance letter from the IT.
Should I wait with posting my documents or just send everything now and then just send them the last remaning ones later?:rolleyes:

Darius.Tr · 10-08-2011 6:35pm

isabell wrote: »

Hi all
My grant application is done (I applied online) and almost all my documents are ready to sent to VEC. However what I am waiting for is the social welfare letter with all the detalis about my income from the JB from 2010 and acceptance letter from the IT.
Should I wait with posting my documents or just send everything now and then just send them the last remaning ones later?:rolleyes:

I had the same problem, but once I rang my local VEC I was told that I should send them the application form, and include all the documents that I haven't receveid yet in the aditional notes..and send the documents once I would get them.

Posada · 10-08-2011 9:02pm

Hi, I received a grant for a Diploma course in 96-99. Now i have applied for an Ordinary Degree (Level 7), am i excluded from getting a grant because this is not progression? I let a Level 8 course offer expire today.

Annasopra · 10-08-2011 9:31pm

Posada wrote: »

Hi, I received a grant for a Diploma course in 96-99. Now i have applied for an Ordinary Degree (Level 7), am i excluded from getting a grant because this is not progression? I let a Level 8 course offer expire today.

Depends on if your diploma is recognised as a level 6 or 7

Posada · 10-08-2011 9:53pm

It was a three year DIT Diploma. It's hard to tell on the NFQ http://www.nfq.ie/nfq/en/FanDiagram/nqai_nfq_08.html but I think i just made a massive mistake. Could i just try to convince the VEC it's a level 6?

Annasopra · 10-08-2011 11:08pm

Posada wrote: »

It was a three year DIT Diploma. It's hard to tell on the NFQ http://www.nfq.ie/nfq/en/FanDiagram/nqai_nfq_08.html but I think i just made a massive mistake. Could i just try to convince the VEC it's a level 6?

I think that an ordinary level degree is what used to be classed as a diploma

Posada · 11-08-2011 4:55pm

Just in case it might help someone else who misses a deadline, i rang the college this am and was able to accept the Level 8 course as a 'late accepter.'

So it's always worth calling the college. And sorry for dragging the thread off topic.

tbahh · 11-08-2011 10:16pm

I have the majority of my grant application filled out, just waiting on a few statement letters.

I was wondering if mortgage relief is classified as an income. I have ordered a statement from this department just in case.

Also, would carers allowance be counted as an income?

Thanks (I am a dependent student with two parents)!

Annasopra · 12-08-2011 12:23pm

tbahh wrote: »

I have the majority of my grant application filled out, just waiting on a few statement letters.

I was wondering if mortgage relief is classified as an income. I have ordered a statement from this department just in case.

Also, would carers allowance be counted as an income?

Thanks (I am a dependent student with two parents)!

From page 22 of this - it looks like mortgage relief is counted but carers allowance is not

http://www.studentfinance.ie/downloads/Student%20Grant%20Scheme%202011.pdf

Cardor · 12-08-2011 8:14pm

I heard the grants don't be paid till October or somtimes way later?

Is there any way of getting the grants earlier? Like i'l be starting college in september.. and i'm going to need money then.. I'm totally dependant on the grant and i'm eligible for the special rate.. will people who can get the special rate get it earlier?

RoyalMarine · 12-08-2011 8:16pm

cardor, it depends on what county your from, some pay quicker than others.
depends on when you applied.
depends if they need to further investigate/process your claim. e.g additional documents etc etc.

no one can give you an exact time of when it will be paid. last year a few of my friends got theirs in october. but other people i know had to wait till feburary!

Cardor · 12-08-2011 8:45pm

Oh right.. I think I might have to get an overdraft in the bank or something of the sort.. I'l find out how it works once I start!

Are the grants usually paid in two installments? Or altogether?

Annasopra · 12-08-2011 8:50pm

Cardor wrote: »

Oh right.. I think I might have to get an overdraft in the bank or something of the sort.. I'l find out how it works once I start!

Are the grants usually paid in two installments? Or altogether?

It's paid in 3 installments. if you are stuck you could approach your students union welfare officer. Some students unions can give short term financial assistance

Cardor · 12-08-2011 8:53pm

mango salsa wrote: »

It's paid in 3 installments. if you are stuck you could approach your students union welfare officer. Some students unions can give short term financial assistance

:O.. 3? I have to pay for my accomodation on my first week for the whole semester.. which is around 2,100! That'l leave me with no money for the whole term.. Will the students union loan me money towards accomodation?

Annasopra · 12-08-2011 8:55pm

Cardor wrote: »

:O.. 3? I have to pay for my accomodation on my first week for the whole semester.. which is around 2,100! That'l leave me with no money for the whole term.. Will the students union loan me money towards accomodation?

They might but no guarantee. Ring up the welfare officer on Monday.

Cardor · 12-08-2011 8:56pm

mango salsa wrote: »

They might but no guarantee. Ring up the welfare officer on Monday.

Ok, I will thanks!

RainbowRed · 14-08-2011 1:13am

Hi, I was just wondering about a question on the grant form about whether I've applied for it before or not.. I did apply for the grant when I was doing a 1 year level 6 course but I wasn't allowed to get the grant because the course wasn't eligible for it.. anyway, do I put down yes that I did apply for it before? or just say no because the course I did wasnt eligible for it? Appreciate any help!

RoyalMarine · 14-08-2011 1:29am

RainbowRed wrote: »

Hi, I was just wondering about a question on the grant form about whether I've applied for it before or not.. I did apply for the grant when I was doing a 1 year level 6 course but I wasn't allowed to get the grant because the course wasn't eligible for it.. anyway, do I put down yes that I did apply for it before? or just say no because the course I did wasnt eligible for it? Appreciate any help!

i would say no. since you were not elligable for it, then quite frankly who cares. the vec office wont have any record of this so its pointless putting it down. what they are really looking for is people who have applied in the past, got the grant, and dropped out after 1 or 2 years in college.
the fact u applied but didnt get the grant will hold no restraint on your next application considering your main failure point was the level you were doing.

Hunchback · 14-08-2011 11:20am

Did anyone enclose any sort of a letter along with their forms and their grant application?

i felt i really needed to 'flesh-out' my financial situation beyond the details in the documents i enclosed.

partially this was because my income for 2010 was one euro and fifty one cent over the income limit for the special rate of maintenance grant.

then somebody told me that they actually use your income figures for 2009!! ( i hope so ).

Absolute best of luck to ALL the maturies of 2011/2012

augusta24 · 14-08-2011 2:15pm

CKonetheonlyone wrote: »

Did anyone enclose any sort of a letter along with their forms and their grant application?

i felt i really needed to 'flesh-out' my financial situation beyond the details in the documents i enclosed.

partially this was because my income for 2010 was one euro and fifty one cent over the income limit for the special rate of maintenance grant.

then somebody told me that they actually use your income figures for 2009!! ( i hope so ).

Absolute best of luck to ALL the maturies of 2011/2012

They use your income for 2010. If you have had a change of circumstances that mean your income is less you should tell them and they can take this into account.

augusta24 · 14-08-2011 2:18pm

I should be entitledto full grant. Waiting to hear back. I'm starting a course in sept and am giving up work for the duration.

Could this count as a change of circumstance? Would they take this into account as I may get special top up then! Or is this not counted as a valid change as I'm giving up work to work to go to college??

brownlad · 14-08-2011 7:14pm

whats a "certified copy of your passport? " thanks

RoyalMarine · 14-08-2011 7:22pm

brownlad wrote: »

whats a "certified copy of your passport? " thanks

bring your passport into the vec office, get them to copy it there and then, they will stamp it and sign it.

or

bring it to the guards barracks and ask them to sign and stamp it.

either way will be good enough.

RainbowRed · 14-08-2011 8:23pm

RoyalMarine wrote: »

i would say no. since you were not elligable for it, then quite frankly who cares. the vec office wont have any record of this so its pointless putting it down. what they are really looking for is people who have applied in the past, got the grant, and dropped out after 1 or 2 years in college.
the fact u applied but didnt get the grant will hold no restraint on your next application considering your main failure point was the level you were doing.

Makes sense, thanks for your help!

I have one other question about Section C question C6.. its about whether I am getting any other financial assistance from Ireland.. does that include the BTEA? the question just above this one asks if I am applying for the BTEA, which I am, but does this question need the details of it? its a bit confusing!

RoyalMarine · 14-08-2011 11:29pm

since the question above asks if your getting BTEA, and you filled that one out as yes, then no, you dont need to put BTEA on question c6. i believe they are just wondering if your getting any money from anywhere else. e.g disability, rent from tennants in any property you own, investments etc etc.

Outkast_IRE · 15-08-2011 10:50pm

Are they strict about getting letters from a college you attended previously?

I briefly attended college in 2004 , i obviously stated this in my grant form i didnt sit any exams or anything but in the supporting documentation section it says to get letters from college stating you were there ?
Are they strict on this ? Just wondering as i have declared everything honestly on the form but i could be waiting another week trying to get this letter that wont even affect my application.

katiemaloe · 16-08-2011 10:48am

Hi,
You guys gave me good help and information here a while ago. Thanks again for that. Such a brilliant, helpful and informative thread.
My application has been posted off and got an email saying it was received. I sent it to the VEC in Tallaght by registered post. Just wondering because I haven't received my documants and birth cert back. Its nearly two weeks now. Should i contact them or is this normal enough because of the amount of applications they get?

RoyalMarine · 16-08-2011 2:23pm

katiemaloe wrote: »

Hi,
You guys gave me good help and information here a while ago. Thanks again for that. Such a brilliant, helpful and informative thread.
My application has been posted off and got an email saying it was received. I sent it to the VEC in Tallaght by registered post. Just wondering because I haven't received my documants and birth cert back. Its nearly two weeks now. Should i contact them or is this normal enough because of the amount of applications they get?

sometimes it takes them a while to process everything as they do get a lot of applications, tons of documents to go through. nothing to worry about really, but if you want peace of mind, just drop them a quick call and see whats happening.

hcass · 16-08-2011 3:04pm

KMM wrote: »

Hey all,

So I have the online part done and dusted. Now I am trying to get all the additional paper works together. What I am stuck on is the proof of being an independent mature candidate.

I live with a friend, who owns the house. I did not sign a lease, as a) it's a friends place and b) we both figured there was no need as I'd only be here for a few months. Anyway, I also have no bills here in my name. I rang CDVEC and she said just attach anything official from October 2010 that I would have been sent. I have trawled through all my papers etc. and can't find a thing that shows I was here from October 1st 2010, I have one final internet bill but that is dated in December 2010! I am actually starting to freak out a bit now and the thing is I am only applying for 'fees only'.

I desperately need some help or advice. Does any one know anything else that's official?

ps. Also since last June I haven't had a bank account! Unbelievable I know

This happened to me - I just got my friend to write me a letter saying I was renting there ad it worked fine.

Charred · 16-08-2011 5:23pm

Hello, I am trying to figure out if I am eligible for the maintenance grant or any other financial assistance.

I am a mature dependant student going back to do an honours degree level 8 course (4 years), previously I completed and was awarded a national diploma in 2004 (3 year course).
Under the National Framework of Qualifications this was changed to an ordinary bachelors degree level 7 the year later and i can now apparently claim equivalence.

Does this mean I have to wait until the start of the fourth year before I'm deemed eligible for a grant?

Thanks for any info

Gaffs89 · 17-08-2011 9:28pm

Hi , we recieved the back to school clothing and footware allowance of €610 in 2010. Will this count as reckonable income?

bradyc6 · 18-08-2011 11:00am

hcass wrote: »

This happened to me - I just got my friend to write me a letter saying I was renting there ad it worked fine.

Sweet! This is what I have done, similar situation where my name isn't on any of the bills and no formal lease signed so got the landlord to write a letter for me confirming my residence. Hoepfully it works.
What granting Authority were you applying to? Was it this year?

Zara23 · 18-08-2011 1:40pm

I got a grant renewal form as opposed to a re-assessment form for my last year. A few things have changed in the last year including my address and I filled out the form including these changes. I called the VEC to ask them if an ESB form would be sufficient as a a change of address. They just asked me if it was a green form, and when I said yes she said 'ALL we need from the renewal forms are a copy of your exam results.'
I didn't give her my name so I called back a few days later and asked for another form.
Is this basically them telling me to just say nothing about the changes? That they're going to let me re-new without question for my last year?
The way she was asking me to make sure it was a renewal made me think they didn't give out many of them and I should keep my mouth shut.
I'm just worried about them finding out halfway through the year and taking the grant away!

RoyalMarine · 18-08-2011 4:16pm

Zara23 wrote: »

I got a grant renewal form as opposed to a re-assessment form for my last year. A few things have changed in the last year including my address and I filled out the form including these changes. I called the VEC to ask them if an ESB form would be sufficient as a a change of address. They just asked me if it was a green form, and when I said yes she said 'ALL we need from the renewal forms are a copy of your exam results.'
I didn't give her my name so I called back a few days later and asked for another form.
Is this basically them telling me to just say nothing about the changes? That they're going to let me re-new without question for my last year?
The way she was asking me to make sure it was a renewal made me think they didn't give out many of them and I should keep my mouth shut.
I'm just worried about them finding out halfway through the year and taking the grant away!

if all you have done is moved house, then i would not worry about it.
personally i would just fill out the renewal form with the updated address, and leave it at that.

sheenahb · 18-08-2011 4:58pm

Hi all, I was just wondering which course acceptance form to fill out. In the checklist I received by email after submitting my application, it says to fill out the A13 course acceptance form for postgrads, but the only one I can find to download online is the FA1 form. Anyone else have the same problem? Might just be a mistake and FA1 is the new name or something... Thanks!

njd2010 · 20-08-2011 4:54pm

jubella wrote: »

Help! I can't find my p45 or p60 anywhere. I need them for my grant form. Is it possible to get replacements for these?? Can't believe I lost them

I'm in the same situation here... I worked throughout 2009 and 1 week of 2010, giving all my payslips and any forms I got from work to my mother for safekeeping. Unfortunately, due to health issues, my mother is no longer able to remember where she kept these and it's quite possible they were thrown out at some stage. I worked in my school during 2010 for 1 week earning 120 euro.

I applied to have a p21 sent to me but I'm not sure about the p60 or 45- Like I said, I worked in a school, and it's going to be hard getting in touch with my superiors there before the 31st. can anyone help?

jubella · 20-08-2011 5:00pm

njd2010 wrote: »

I'm in the same situation here... I worked throughout 2009 and 1 week of 2010, giving all my payslips and any forms I got from work to my mother for safekeeping. Unfortunately, due to health issues, my mother is no longer able to remember where she kept these and it's quite possible they were thrown out at some stage. I worked in my school during 2010 for 1 week earning 120 euro.

I applied to have a p21 sent to me but I'm not sure about the p60 or 45- Like I said, I worked in a school, and it's going to be hard getting in touch with my superiors there before the 31st. can anyone help?

Hi, I would ring up your local grant office if I were you. They were really helpful as I still can't find my p60 (found p45 thankfully). They told me not to worry about the p60 because seeing as I didn't work any more they wouldn't be counting my income anyway. So give them a ring and they might be able to sort something out for you.

njd2010 · 20-08-2011 5:08pm

jubella wrote: »

Hi, I would ring up your local grant office if I were you. They were really helpful as I still can't find my p60 (found p45 thankfully). They told me not to worry about the p60 because seeing as I didn't work any more they wouldn't be counting my income anyway. So give them a ring and they might be able to sort something out for you.

ok, I'll do that, thanks!

Hunchback · 21-08-2011 12:28pm

OR, you can go to the revenue office, and they will be able to print off a P35 for you ( this is basically the exact same as your P60, but it is your employers copy)

It is completely acceptable by the grants office, as i rang to make sure.

just bring your social security number with you. the lady in the galway office did it for me on the spot!!

Back Prince · 23-08-2011 10:13pm

do you need to send in all original forms such as birth cert, leaving cert results

And I am a student in third year of my course only this year was family income below the required amount do i just fill out the form as if I was doing it from first year ? Thanks

RoyalMarine · 23-08-2011 10:30pm

Back Prince wrote: »

do you need to send in all original forms such as birth cert, leaving cert results

And I am a student in third year of my course only this year was family income below the required amount do i just fill out the form as if I was doing it from first year ? Thanks

yes. or you can make verified copies.

Back Prince · 23-08-2011 10:53pm

and finally question where do you send the forms of too or do you have to hand them in. One of us is attending a university and the other is attending an institute of technology

Annasopra · 23-08-2011 11:13pm

Back Prince wrote: »

and finally question where do you send the forms of too or do you have to hand them in. One of us is attending a university and the other is attending an institute of technology

Your local county council

chris___boii · 24-08-2011 7:57pm

So since my grant isnt going to come out in time and the grant is pretty much all the money i have does anyone have any ideas to how i would pay the fees (I will be going to dit).

Post here if you need assistance filling out the grant form!

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