Going to school and social welfare

Panicked

Hi all
Okay I think first a bit of background information. I'm 20, an Irish citizen, born here to Irish parents, but grew up mostly in the US. I came here two years ago when my mother moved back, and have worked here for the last year. The thing is, I really want to go to university. The course I want to do requires I sit the leaving cert and apply through the CAO, so I've applied to the Institute of Education to do 6th year there.

But my giving up work would put a big financial burden on my family (which consists of my mother, myself, and my two younger siblings). And since I'm not in 3rd level education, I don't think I'm entitled to a state grant. So I'm wondering, since I won't be working, would it be possible to apply for social welfare for the year? Otherwise I think I'll be looking at some staggering bank loans

Thanks in advance

~K

Meathlass

I would make a appointment with your local FAS office. They have back to school schemes for young people. I'm not sure though would they give you a grant to go to the Institue though (isn't that feepaying?). There might be another forum this would be better in.

rs

I looked into doing some further 3rd level education here. i'm irish originally but mostly grew up in Canada.

When I was doing it, it turned out that I was going to be treated as a foreign student (and have to pay much higher fees) because I had not been resident in Ireland long enough at the time. I think I had to be liviing in Ireland for at least 3 years and I'd only been back 18 months. This was several years ago and may have changed since. You might want to check this out though, as it came as a nasty surprise to me.

LegacyUser

rs I looked into doing some further 3rd level education here. i'm irish originally but mostly grew up in Canada.

When I was doing it, it turned out that I was going to be treated as a foreign student (and have to pay much higher fees) because I had not been resident in Ireland long enough at the time. I think I had to be liviing in Ireland for at least 3 years and I'd only been back 18 months. This was several years ago and may have changed since. You might want to check this out though, as it came as a nasty surprise to me.

===================================================

Nope it has not changed.... I got caught in same loop hole. Did all my schooling in Australia & cant go to University for 3 years so im working a office job now.... its ****e, another reason Ireland sucks

brianthebard

Why wouldn't you be able to get a grant? Have you called your county council about it? You can't sign on if you are going to university.

Mimikyu

This post has been deleted.

dudara

Moved to State Benefits

dudara

Attol

You do realise that the Institute is about 6k a year? If money is tight you may be best of going to a state school.

Panicked

Meathlass wrote: »

I would make a appointment with your local FAS office. They have back to school schemes for young people. I'm not sure though would they give you a grant to go to the Institue though (isn't that feepaying?).

Attol wrote: »

You do realise that the Institute is about 6k a year? If money is tight you may be best of going to a state school.

It is fee-paying. The course I want to do is a very competitive one, and the institute is (supposedly) the best. I've sold my car to pay for it. But I won't be working or earning, my mother won't be able to claim child benefits for me since I'm not under 19. It's bad enough I won't be contributing any more, I'd prefer not to be a financial burden to my family too.

rs wrote: »

When I was doing it, it turned out that I was going to be treated as a foreign student (and have to pay much higher fees) because I had not been resident in Ireland long enough at the time. I

Hi, thanks for your input. I had a look into this, and by the time next year rolls around, when I hope to start university, I will have been "normally resident in Ireland" for 3 of the last 5 years.

brianthebard wrote: »

Why wouldn't you be able to get a grant? Have you called your county council about it? You can't sign on if you are going to university.

It's for school, I'm not going to university (yet at least), so I'm not entitled to a higher education grant (I believe).

Solitaryman666 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

So is their no financial assistance available? Is it really the case that if I just quit work with the objective of sitting on my behind, I could get welfare, but since I want to do the leaving certificate I can't claim anything?

dudara wrote: »

Moved to State Benefits

dudara

Thanks dudara! I didn't know that forum existed.

popebenny16

was wondering how we had an unreg poster lol.

The only SW payment is Back to Education Allowance and you do not meet the criteria for it, you have to be on JB for a period of time.

AFAIK, Local Authority Grants are for third level / post leaving cert.

As an alternative, try to see if they'll recognise your existing High School Qualifications and allow you through the Mature Student route, as opposed to even doing the LC?

These people may be of help:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=832

Nevyn

You can do and sit the leaving cert part time and hold off until you qualify as a mature student and apply then to the cao.

ApeXaviour

popebenny16 wrote: »

The only SW payment is Back to Education Allowance and you do not meet the criteria for it, you have to be on JB for a period of time.

I remember looking up about BTEA, and she appears an ideal candidate, except for the fact she hasn't been on jobseeker's allowance for 6 months. Could the OP not just go on jobseekers allowance before she starts school, then switch it to BTEA (which is worth more anyway...) in December/January? I certainly wouldn't consider it diddlying the system since it's not at all going against the spirit of it, merely temporarily overlooking a technicality.

Thaedydal wrote:

You can do and sit the leaving cert part time and hold off until you qualify as a mature student and apply then to the cao.

Afaik you have to be 23 on Jan 1st of that year to qualify as a Mature student. She's 20, if she's had her birthday already this year that'd mean waiting 4 years!