[mango salsa]

Originally Posted by Calleja

Does anyone know what the standard grant threshold is? Are they referring to the 'Standard rate-25% maintenance' or something else?

It's not fully clear what the Dept mean

The current cut off rate for the std rate 100% is €41,110
The current cut off rate for the std rate 25% is €47,205

BUT the income limits are going to change anyway

Maybe contact your local TD and ask them to submit a parliamentary question something like this:

Could the Minister clarify his answer to Deputy Eamon O'Cuiv on 6th March 2012 regarding fee grants for postgraduate students what he means by "There will be a new income threshold for this payment which will be lower than the standard grant threshold." Specifically - is the standard grant threshold relating to the 100% rate or the 25% rate?

http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?...ird+level+fees

[Viva La Gloria]

Originally Posted by mango salsa

See here

http://www.studentfinance.ie/mp7232/...ant/index.html

Jaysus, you'd nearly have to be earning nothing at all to qualify for the special rate grant. I would love to know the numbers for those eligible.

[Dougal McGuire]

when and where can one apply to have postgrad fees paid?

[Dougal McGuire]

anyone hear back from the SUSI yet about whether your getting your fees paid for? rang them today and they said that Im not at the decision stage yet. they seem to be very slow. need to know by 2 weeks time like

[head_honcho]

Originally Posted by Dougal McGuire

anyone hear back from the SUSI yet about whether your getting your fees paid for? rang them today and they said that Im not at the decision stage yet. they seem to be very slow. need to know by 2 weeks time like

I am the exact same, I've to pay full fees in under 2 weeks and wanted to know whether I was even considered yet!

[augusta24]

Originally Posted by head_honcho

I am the exact same, I've to pay full fees in under 2 weeks and wanted to know whether I was even considered yet!

Obviously I understand that you won't know for sure until they get back to you, but I knd the guidelines fairly straightforward now, so surely you should have a fair idea of whether you'll get it based on your total I come for 2011....

[Viva La Gloria]

I got my letter from SUSI saing that I'm not eligible for even €2000 assistance. Absolutely devastated to be honest, have to come up with €6000 now for fees, really thought I would have gotten it. Feeling majorly frustrated at the moment, loan here I come

[Steevy]

Originally Posted by Viva La Gloria

I got my letter from SUSI saing that I'm not eligible for even €2000 assistance. Absolutely devastated to be honest, have to come up with €6000 now for fees, really thought I would have gotten it. Feeling majorly frustrated at the moment, loan here I come

Remember that since you're not eligible for grant and your Fee Status is EU rate of Fee, you must keep paying €6000 through the course of your studies.
Once you start paying, it can never be changed so think carefully if you really wanna go to college and if you can afford it.

[Viva La Gloria]

Originally Posted by Steevy

Remember that since you're not eligible for grant and your Fee Status is EU rate of Fee, you must keep paying €6000 through the course of your studies.
Once you start paying, it can never be changed so think carefully if you really wanna go to college and if you can afford it.

Ah yeah, I know that. Going to go with either the credit union or Bank of Ireland loan scheme, I think. This is the course I want to do- I would have had to pay €4000 minimum but I genuinely thought I'd be eligible for €2000 at least from the government, still a lot of money

[HavingCrack]

Originally Posted by Viva La Gloria

Ah yeah, I know that. Going to go with either the credit union or Bank of Ireland loan scheme, I think. This is the course I want to do- I would have had to pay €4000 minimum but I genuinely thought I'd be eligible for €2000 at least from the government, still a lot of money

Don't touch the Bank of Ireland loan scheme-Ulster Bank do something very similar for an interest rate roughly half of Bank of Ireland's.

[mango salsa]

Originally Posted by Viva La Gloria

I got my letter from SUSI saing that I'm not eligible for even €2000 assistance. Absolutely devastated to be honest, have to come up with €6000 now for fees, really thought I would have gotten it. Feeling majorly frustrated at the moment, loan here I come

Don't foget that you can get a tax refund. That could reduce your fees by maybe about 1000. If your parent or someone earning and paying tax pays the fees they can claim a tax rebate

[augusta24]

Originally Posted by Viva La Gloria

Ah yeah, I know that. Going to go with either the credit union or Bank of Ireland loan scheme, I think. This is the course I want to do- I would have had to pay €4000 minimum but I genuinely thought I'd be eligible for €2000 at least from the government, still a lot of money

Why was it that you thought you'd get the €2000? If you really thought that, it could be a mistake by susi?

[Viva La Gloria]

Originally Posted by HavingCrack

Don't touch the Bank of Ireland loan scheme-Ulster Bank do something very similar for an interest rate roughly half of Bank of Ireland's.

Just an option, trying to explore all possibilities. Looking at a credit union loan as well.

Originally Posted by mango salsa

Don't foget that you can get a tax refund. That could reduce your fees by maybe about 1000. If your parent or someone earning and paying tax pays the fees they can claim a tax rebate

I'll be getting a loan out to pay the fees though, parents don't have any money at all for it.

Originally Posted by augusta24

Why was it that you thought you'd get the €2000? If you really thought that, it could be a mistake by susi?

Because I had previously qualified for reg fees being paid and a maitenance grant for my degree. My parents want me to appeal it but there seems no point because if it's above the income threshold then SUSI won't budge on the decision.

[mango salsa]

Originally Posted by Viva La Gloria

I'll be getting a loan out to pay the fees though, parents don't have any money at all for it.

Anybody can claim a tax rebate on the fees. This is a way of saving yourself 800 euros. What you do is - you get the loan give the money to anyone earning full time and paying taxes - they pay the fees on your behalf. they claim a tax refund and give back to you.

So if you have a friend or parent or sibling or relative ask them to do this for you. It saves you money.

What happens is for example you get the 6000 loan. You give this 6000 to a friend or parent (anyone working and paying income tax) - they pay the fees in your behalf. they get a receipt from the college. they claim tax relief and they give you back what they have claimed

http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/it/leaflets/it31.html

[Viva La Gloria]

Originally Posted by mango salsa

Anybody can claim a tax rebate on the fees. This is a way of saving yourself 800 euros. What you do is - you get the loan give the money to anyone earning full time and paying taxes - they pay the fees on your behalf. they claim a tax refund and give back to you.

So if you have a friend or parent or sibling or relative ask them to do this for you. It saves you money.

What happens is for example you get the 6000 loan. You give this 6000 to a friend or parent (anyone working and paying income tax) - they pay the fees in your behalf. they get a receipt from the college. they claim tax relief and they give you back what they have claimed

http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/it/leaflets/it31.html

Ah, ok so my parents will be taking the loan out on my behalf from the credit union (I don't have a CU account....I know, I know!) so, because it's in their name anyway, when it comes to paying the fees, it just goes in their name and then they can claim it back? Only thing is, both pay taxes but neither are really working full time hours. My Dad will shortly be going back to a 3 day week with in his job- will this still qualify? :/