Dole / Grant

smk135

I knowwwwww this is the wrong place for this but AH people just have so much wisdom and experience in the world I thought I'd give it a shot and see if anyone knows anything bout this problem:

intend to start studying next September.

So I need to save, save, save.
Also, I don't get this, I have lived abroad for about 10 years, but remain an Irish Citizen obviously. My parents also lived abroad (but mother is Irish), but they worked for over 25 years paying huges taxes in Ireland and apparently neither myself nor mysister are entitled to a grant? Can anyone shed some light on this and make my day by tellin me this is false and explain how to get around it?

Otherwise, will have worked say 6-9 months in Cork before starting study - what are the chances of getting the dole in that case?

Thanks for any response - I just can't face the million hour long "on hold" phonecalls to the Dpt of Edu.

AARRRGH

I'm nearly certain (but I'm open to correction) that it's your last three years of taxes which are taken into consideration.

I don't really understand what your question is though.

Are you asking if you qualify for a grant or the dole?

smk135

Well I'd rather go the grant route, but it looks unlikely (which in my opinion is outrageous considering how much and hard my mother worked but anywayyy)

so if I can't go the grant route, possibly apply for the dole instead. If I do have to would I be eligible for that with 6-9 months work under my belt? And in around how much I be recieving? (and also is it not illegal to be gettin the dole while being a student?

Thanks AAArgh

snubbleste

I think you are having a rant there!
Take a look at www.studentfinance.ie to find out why you are either eligible or not for free fees or a maintenance grant.

Thread should be moved to Edu.

AARRRGH

You can't claim the dole while you are a student.

CiaranC

People in full-time education dont qualify for the dole

funk-you

smk135 wrote: »

I knowwwwww this is the wrong place for this but AH people just have so much wisdom and experience in the world

HA!

No you can't get the dole and be a full time student as far as i'm aware.

-Funk

smk135

great thanks lads, will have a look at that site now and will bar the dole out of my possibilities. And just save as much as possible while working till September.

didn't intend to rant but re reading my post realised I did. oops.

AARRRGH

smk135 wrote: »

great thanks lads, will have a look at that site now and will bar the dole out of my possibilities. And just save as much as possible while working till September.

didn't intend to rant but re reading my post realised I did. oops.

You should be able to work part-time while studying.

I worked 35 hours during my degree and full-time during my masters. It can be done! It just takes a bit of time management.

smk135

AARRRGH wrote: »

You should be able to work part-time while studying.

I worked 35 hours during my degree and full-time during my masters. It can be done! It just takes a bit of time management.

I will definitely be trying to do that as well, it's just I know a few people really struggling in college although they are working and getting a grant.

Also, to be honest I'm working full time (+bar work wkends) at the moment, and although I have an extremely strict budget to save for study, it's a bit surprising how little I can put aside. It's an NGO i'm working for so not a great salary but still, can't help but wonder what it'll be like to get by on a part time salary...

AARRRGH

If you give up booze + smoke + lattes, and shop in Lidl, you'll find your money lasts a long time.

I tried the above for a while and could live on about €50 per week, and that would include some treats.

smk135

AARRRGH wrote: »

If you give up booze + smoke + lattes, and shop in Lidl, you'll find your money lasts a long time.

I tried the above for a while and could live on about €50 per week, and that would include some treats.

haha Funny you should say that, I gave up smoke last week when I realised how much I was spending. And obviously booze and lattes - it's great working weekends cause you don't get time for much of that.

50 euros a week... that's a good aim. See, I've no idea on how much it would cost realistically to live as a student in Cork, or anywhere for that matter.

And what about your rent? Cause I would easily live of 50 a week, that's more than what i'm living off at the moment... (I'm a vegetarian!)

AARRRGH

My rent is 600 per month, which is pretty good for where I live (Georges Street in Dublin 2).

Basic food is cheap - fresh pasta, chopped tomatoes, etc.

I used to work as a barman as well for a while, and I used that as my way to get the booze into me (everyone drank behind the bar!) which did me for the week and as much food as possible (it had an all you can eat attitude to staff dinners...)

The biggie for me though was no more pints. It's AMAZING how much you realise you spend on alcohol when you give it up.

smk135

AARRRGH wrote: »

My rent is 600 per month, which is pretty good for where I live (Georges Street in Dublin 2).

Basic food is cheap - fresh pasta, chopped tomatoes, etc.

I used to work as a barman as well for a while, and I used that as my way to get the booze into me (everyone drank behind the bar!) which did me for the week and as much food as possible (it had an all you can eat attitude to staff dinners...)

The biggie for me though was no more pints. It's AMAZING how much you realise you spend on alcohol when you give it up.

Yeah I have to say I was pretty shocked when I realised how much I was spending on nights out or smokes and these little things that seem to be a part of every day life!

600 is pretty incredible - are you sharing?

I've been looking at studios inCork and it's nuts, around 800 to have a sh*tty bedsit...

AARRRGH

Yeah, I'm sharing... €1200 in total. Not bad but I've lived there for years and look after the place for the landlord...

smk135

AARRRGH wrote: »

Yeah, I'm sharing... €1200 in total. Not bad but I've lived there for years and look after the place for the landlord...

Well nice one, good to hear landlords and tenants treating eachother well instead of the usual b*tching and moaning about it!

Thanks for all your help.

dlofnep

You're not entitled to the dole. You would be entitled to a grant. It depends firstly on whether you live at home or not. If you do, it goes by your parents earnings. If you don't and live on your own, it would go by your earnings. Chances of getting a grant while living at home aren't very good (even if you pay digs like me). They don't means test it properly, and only take into account your parents income which doesn't make sense if you're paying digs and not receiving any of it.

smk135

dlofnep wrote: »

You're not entitled to the dole. You would be entitled to a grant. It depends firstly on whether you live at home or not. If you do, it goes by your parents earnings. If you don't and live on your own, it would go by your earnings. Chances of getting a grant while living at home aren't very good (even if you pay digs like me). They don't means test it properly, and only take into account your parents income which doesn't make sense if you're paying digs and not receiving any of it.

Hmm must be out of the loop - a dig is...?

That's very interesting though, do you mean my current earnings (or the ones I will have when I start working Ireland?) or do you meant whatever earnings I get as a student working part time?

Thanks

dlofnep

Just mean I'm paying money to stay in my parents house.

I think they only take into account your earnings in Ireland. Not totally sure though. Are you a mature student? I'm classified as one, but it's a dependant mature student due to living at home. If you move out before you start college, chances are you'll get the full grant.

smk135

dlofnep wrote: »

Just mean I'm paying money to stay in my parents house.

I think they only take into account your earnings in Ireland. Not totally sure though. Are you a mature student? I'm classified as one, but it's a dependant mature student due to living at home. If you move out before you start college, chances are you'll get the full grant.

Thanks a mil that's great.
I'm not a mature student because of the time of year I was born...! Anyway that's besides the point, it's just that I've been working since I left school, got my leaving Cert in France and been living abroad so not sure where I stand.

It makes sense that it would on your earnings in Ireland so I rekcon I should start looking asap to move over there.

Thanks again.

dlofnep

Yeah, do you want to move out or live with your parents? If you want to move out, make sure you do before you start college.

I wanted to move out cos there isn't really alot of space at home, but my grant request was already processed - and when I tried to tell them that I had to move out, they said to me that I'd have to quit college and then restart again next year in order to get it. Some country, huh?

If you live at home, you'll probably get at best 25% grant. Or maybe nothing at all. Depending on your parents income.

smk135

dlofnep wrote: »

Yeah, do you want to move out or live with your parents? If you want to move out, make sure you do before you start college.

I wanted to move out cos there isn't really alot of space at home, but my grant request was already processed - and when I tried to tell them that I had to move out, they said to me that I'd have to quit college and then restart again next year in order to get it. Some country, huh?

If you live at home, you'll probably get at best 25% grant. Or maybe nothing at all. Depending on your parents income.

That's ridiculous that you'd have to "restart college" - there's no feckin logic to that at all and I can think of at least 20 scenarios where that rule would not make sense...

Anyway, I don't live my parents now anyway, and they live in Dublin - I'll be doing my course in Cork so will definitely not be living with them.

problem is this "Depending on your parents income" > My parents lived abroad (although they paid plenty of tax for years and years in Ireland) for a good few years now and so I'm not sure it will work to get the grant.

Also, it's very hard to prove their "income" at the moment as they are divorcing (under French legislation!!!) so bleh it's just a beaurocratic mess!

Ah well I just hope I'm entitled to something cause it would take a load of pressure off havign to save up now...